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Stone-pelters today, gun-wielders tomorrow

Catch them young is what presents a picture of the prospective diehard generation in the Kashmir valley today.

Stone-pelters today, gun-wielders tomorrow

A student pelts stones in Srinagar. PTI file



Col Mahesh Chadha (retd)

Catch them young is what presents a picture of the prospective diehard generation in the Kashmir valley today. It is now almost three decades that the boys and girls born in the interim have learnt to pursue the mission ingrained in them — to liberate Kashmir from the occupation forces of India. A very simple act of stone-pelting at the security forces (SF) is being practised that obstructs and diminishes the chances of launching any successful operation against the insurgents or the anti-national elements and places them in a win-win situation; one, making the terrorists escape under the shield provided by them and two, ensuring their own safety for any action taken against them would make the SF liable to prosecution. 

In the two recent cases where a boy was overrun by the J&K police vehicle and a tourist was done to death with stones brings to fore a question: what could a driver do when a boy pelting stones on the preceding vehicle came under it and died? To a common man, it would appear as an accident in the heat of the moment, when the terrorists are being chased, the driver sits on the right and the boy came from the left hand side. But to the separatists like the Hurriyat and their supporters, it would appear to be a cold-blooded murder. But the latter case for them is not so. For the SF, this is a very sensitive and critical situation to handle for which they would have to face courts for long. Can this go on forever? After all, it is an Indian blood that would have been preserved for a better cause. 

The stone-pelting phenomenon

The question is why these young boys and girls have taken to stone-pelting. May be, some of them have lost their kith and kin in crossfire, or have been subjected to troublesome cordon and search operations carried out regularly by SF to hound out suspected terrorists. Or, above all, that they have been indoctrinated by their peers, leaders, parents, relatives and friends inimical to India and through vitiated propaganda that goes on in their schools and religious places. That such are the atrocities being inflicted upon them as to be confronted with stone-pelting is a mere expression of their ire at the SF — doing a David to a Goliath. 

Regarding the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley as a victory over the sympathisers or informers for the SF, it is such youth who in the near future is likely to take up arms and join like their elders the terrorist groups launching a rebellion against the state in the times to come — resulting in civil war-like situation. It must be remembered that the gun is more lethal than the stone. Therefore, wisdom lies in to bear the injuries caused by stones, let the terrorist escape for the time being; for he can only live another day and his turn would come sooner or later. What is the hurry in launching the 'Operation All Out', cause and suffer casualties on both sides as insurgency of such high intensity is not likely to die- but continue to simmer? So, it has to be doused in a manner that it does not look anti-Kashmiris as it does today. So, irrespective of the danger imposed upon the SF there is a need to be more tolerant as such retaliatory incidents negate all the good work done by the SF and the state to bring the youth in to main stream. 

The solution

From time to time, we have tried many options; but not what we adopted as 'give and take' that paved the way for the Mizo National Front to take over the reins from an elected government to terminate the insurgency. The Naga accord is another successful experiment. The fear that such a move may enable the separatists to call for a referendum is ill founded as there are provisions in the Constitution that would require the assent of the President, participation in elections, PoK to be brought under Indian control and it's participation and, above all, Jammu and Ladakh not toeing such a line to pass the referendum for an accession or joining Pakistan. Perhaps, such a government may be able to re-orientate the stone-pelters to better cause of joining the mainstream.

The following are some points that would bring today’s stone-pelters — for they can still be remoulded to utilise their energy towards the cause of peace in Kashmir:

  • Start afresh, listen and not assert on issues that have brought Kashmir to such a pass.
  • A soothing counter propaganda by the authorities in the schools, colleges and other institutions to negate the propaganda by the separatists and the terrorists. 
  • Follow the principles of good faith, minimum force and preventive action rather than punitive action.
  • Armed action only against foreign insurgents crossing over to Kashmir.
  • A unilateral cease fire against own trouble makers during religious festivals and when talks are under progress to create an atmosphere of understanding and peace.
  • Reinvent commandments to take forward the essence of Kashmiriat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriat. 
  • Assuage the feelings of hurt and animosity against India by constant dialogue with social workers, eminent persons, writers and poets.
  • Dispense quick justice to the victims.

 There is nothing worse than shedding more blood on Indian soil revered for ages for its unity in diversity, art and culture for which Kashmir stands out as heaven on earth. In this hour of crisis, the nation has to stand together with sincerity of purpose without any hidden agenda of political parties to give peace a chance.

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