DNA Edit | Cowards strike again: Only a forceful retribution will deter terrorists

With alarming regularity, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists have been effecting their ominous plans for Kashmir by selectively, and cowardly, murdering military, para-military and police officers residing in Kashmir. By killing an unarmed BSF constable Rameez Parray in cold blood, the terrorists have shown that they do not abide by any established norms of warfare. Parray was away on leave and far off from his fellow troopers when cowards dragged him out of his home in Bandipore district and shot him dead. This is not the first time that such a dastardly and demoralising act has been perpetrated. In fact, the selective targeting of law-enforcement officers is now becoming an established modus-operandi of the terrorists.

On May 9 this year, Army Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, also unarmed at the time of the assault, was abducted from his cousin’s wedding and mercilessly riddled with bullets. In June, Feroz Ahmad Dar, a Station House Officer (SHO) of the Achabal police station was gunned down along with five of his colleagues at Thajiwara village in Anantnag district. Just a couple of days before Dar’s ruthless murder, Mohammad Ayub Pandith, a Deputy Superintendent of the J&K Police became a victim of mob justice when he was lynched in the premises of Srinagar’s Jama Masjid. Time and again, DNA has criticised these dishonourable attacks that the militants are executing with a chilling consistency and brazen impunity. Time and again, DNA has called for a forceful, swift and decisive crackdown on these terrorists that would act as an effective deterrent.

However, the fact that these attacks have persisted means that the government has been remiss in addressing the issue of safety of officers principally residing in the state. Such dereliction of duty, on part of the state government, comes at the detriment of reputation of the Indian establishment in the Valley and at the detriment of people’s morale. Patent in the brutal murders of these young officers is the message that joining forces with the Indian government will inevitably be met with death punishment. This trend must not be allowed to continue unabated. For, nothing should deter right-thinking Kashmiris from joining our security forces. Any setback on this front would be a categorical defeat of the inclusiveness that India stands for. Going ahead, the Indian agencies must chalk out a plan that ensures safety for Kashmiri officers working with Indian agencies.

Secondly, it must counter these optics of terror groups with strident offensives that underline India’s unshakable resolve in not ceding Kashmir to the misrule of Pakistan. Pakistan learnt its lesson at the UNGA when its attempt to embarrass India before the community of nations backfired leaving its diplomatic cadres red-faced. Nations across the world know that Pakistan has, for decades now, served as a safe haven for terrorists, and it is Pakistan’s covert support to Islamic radical factions that often disturbs the balance of power in South Asia and beyond.