Jaish-e-Mohammad lost no time in gloating over the success of their attack on the convoy of CRPF personnel in Pulwama in which 40 or more jawans have died. The next day an army major was killed while diffusing an IED in Rajouri and on the following day a Brigadier, Lt. Colonel and a deputy inspector general of police were among those seriously injured, while four soldiers died as well, in the Pulwama’s Pingleena area in a seventeen-hour-long encounter. The army could eliminate a few terrorists, including high ranking leaders of the
J-e-M located in Kashmir.
The reaction across the country has been one of anger and disbelief, the opposition parties blaming the Prime Minister and the government and ordinary people mourning the death, with candlelight marches. Many states, organisations, sportspersons, film actors, industrialists and ordinary people have come forward to help with a kind of magnanimity towards the kith and kin of the soldiers, displaying a rare unity unseen recently.
There also is a sad aspect, as ordinary Kashmiri citizens, students and others living in many parts of India have been targeted and attacked by criminal elements, displaying a misplaced national fervour. This situation perhaps is just what the terrorists could be wishing to materialise – alienation of all Kashmiris, whose return to Kashmir could trigger retaliation and driving out of non-Kashmiris from the valley.
This just should not be allowed to happen. The impact of killing thousands of Sikhs in the aftermath of the orgy of violence over Indira Gandhi’s murder is not to be forgotten, the wound still raw and unhealed to those families and relatives of the slain innocents.
The government, I am sure, is weighing all options and would appropriately respond to the terrorists attack, sending a strong message to our recalcitrant neighbour against such misadventure in the future. Calling the army names- effeminate as one acquaintance quoted, is not only plain criminal, but also is an act of treason.
Kashmir is India’s, Kashmiris are Indians, and all Kashmiris are not Jihadis. Mischievous elements from across the border have infiltrated and mingled with the society in Kashmir to create trouble in a proxy war, where we as Indians should be vigilant and avoid communal hatred.
Our country will cross over this hurdle too, soon.
Jai Hind!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide voix