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'Burhan Wani dead is more dangerous than Burhan Wani alive'

dna spoke to Former GOC of 15 Corps based in Srinagar Lt Gen Syed Hasnain Ata.

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The volatile outpouring of sentiments in the valley over the killing of Burhan Wani, a 21-year-old local Hizbul Mujaheedin commander risks unleashing a new phase of violence in Kashmir and reviving the cycle of mass unrest as seen in 2010. As large mobs of locals come out in the street to protest the killing and limited numbers of security forces confront them, stone-pelting and firing of unarmed protestors is spreading across the valley, fuelling anger and hostile equation one which places `Kashmiris versus Armed Forces’.

dna speaks with Lt Gen Syed Hasnain Ata, former GOC of 15 Corps based in Srinagar-- credited to being one of the few popular military General to break into the Kashmiri society and lend an ear to their grievance--on the military gains over Burhan Wani encounter, why additional deployment can worsen the situation and how restraining control can help in calming the outrage. Excerpts from the interview

Burhan Wani was a high profile target for the Army. What are the military (and political) gains from his elimination?

From military angle, the local terrorist movement, their organizational capability and more importantly their morale is dented. A psychological message is conveyed that a militant however important he is has a short life. On an average, the new recruits last 6 months. Some years ago, they used to last for about two years.  Burhan survived as a militant for 5 years, primarily because he was a local leader and he had a huge support. Having eliminated is a major achievement, as creation of another personality of his stature again takes time. Burhan was proficient with the use of social media, which he perfected over these years. That will be lost (for Hizbul) I think, as these things are not institutionalized in terrorist organization. But there is one thing, which is also tweeted by Omar Abdullah, Burhan Wani dead is more dangerous than Burhan Wani alive. His name is going to attract lot of attention and the youth attaches a romantic angle to him. In Kashmir, there are very few young heroes, the moment a local terrorist of this kind is killed. He was already a hero and now in his death, he will be a bigger hero.

So far, 19 protesters have been shot, over 100 SF's injured, there is medical emergency declared. Do you think the Army took post-encounter situation in account ? 

We should be concerned about this, the number of deaths occurring to police firing. This is dangerous as it virtually brings us back to 2010. The police had to resort to firing because a lot of police stations-- 17 just in South Kashmir --were attacked. This used to happen in the past as well, but not in such large numbers like now. The moment a mob attacks a police station, which has limited number of personnel, putting their life and property in danger, they will open fire resulting in civilian casualty. This is what the separatist want, ISI and across the LOC want.

Will Wani’s death give a fresh impetus to recruitment, radicalization and homegrown militancy ?
That is always a concern after killing of a terrorist leader. It puts down the terrorist movement temporarily, but there will always be efforts to bring back another leader. But the Army’s focus should be to not allow such iconisation of a youth leader of Burhan’s stature again. There will be (an impetus) unless the authorities can get their act together. All the stakeholders in Kashmir right from the district administration, police, intelligence, Para military and the Army need to get their act together and come under a unified command for outreach to go out and engage the people. We need to counter the social media campaign that the terrorist groups have.

Did the authorities take into account post-encounter situation ? At the time of Amarnath Yatra, do you think it was a wise decision to go ahead with Operation Burhan ?

I don’t think the Army, the IB and the Police which jointly undertook this operation, actually took into consideration out-pour to such an extent and that it will affect the Amarnath Yatra. Such decisions are always difficult as the choice is between taking down a prized target or to wait. They took the decision to carry the operation and manage the aftermath of the situation. If the valley continues to burn for a very long time, then I think it’s a un-wise decision to carry the operation at this time.

What are the immediate steps or how can the Army and political leadership need to take to keep the situation going volatile like in 2010 ?

I think the Security Forces should not contest the stone pelting and to try and pull back. If people want to have gatherings let them, the policemen should remain in police stations. If there are 20 policemen for a mob of 1000, then the police will resort to firing. The problem with pulling of fresh companies from outside Kashmir is that none of them are aware of the situation or are sensitive to it, nor do they know how to handle it. Additional and new deployment can worsen the situation, if made to accost mob. They should be used for guarding police stations and sensitive locations and let the local resources and the policemen stay outside. The policemen  should not try to extend themselves to control the situation; the situation will hopefully control itself.

Winning hearts and minds is a part of Army’s Counter Insurgency doctrine, where as the current atmosphere in the valley denotes rage and frustration ?

From the last one year, the situation is worsening. Campaign like Sadbhavna mission doesn’t work here. It works at the tactical level at the Company and Battalion level, but in the larger picture it doesn’t work. There is a need of information outreach with the people, but except for the Army, no politician, bureaucrat or police does that in Kashmir.

This is not a black and white game that you kill a terrorist and you will have a victory. The army and the authorities need to simultaneously work towards the elimination of terrorists including local leaders as well as engaging the locals. There will always be wins and losses. Try and make sure that the win some is bigger than lose some.

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