Handle with care
Following the civilian killings including those of members from minority communities and the migrant labourers, the security agencies have been put on high alert. The security force personnel have been deployed all over, particularly in sensitive areas and the frisking of pedestrians and checking of vehicles has been intensified. To ensure the safety of the general public, these are the inconveniences that people have to live with as some fringe elements, armed with pistols, are on a killing spree and have been targeting innocent civilians. However, what is expected of the police and other security forces is a people friendly attitude while performing their duties. Those who are behind these killings need to be identified and put behind bars so that law of the land can take its own course. As already maintained in these columns, violence has no religion, it has no ethics or principles. It can only kill and destroy. Those who are indulging in violence or propagating violent ideologies need to understand that Allah has not created this world for death and destruction. He created a special specie – humans – with the intension that this specie will beautify his world with love and compassion. The murderers are brazenly and shamelessly trying to negate Allah’s plan. Fact of the matter is that they will never succeed in their designs. The society has to wake up and raise its voice against the violence. The gunmen involved in these murders are the ones who have brought all kinds of miseries to the people of Kashmir. They have disturbed the social fabric here and created an atmosphere of insecurity all over. Such mindless and senseless murderers have no place in any civilized society and these for should be named, shamed and isolated
That said, the police and other security agencies need to handle the situation with utmost caution. Reports suggest that hundreds of people have been picked up by the police following the attacks. It sounds like a knee-jerk reaction. Instead of going for random arrests and thus alienating the entire population, the police should concentrate on some real policing. The incidents should be probed professionally and the culprits should be identified and dealt with as per the law. But arresting randomly anyone and everyone is no solution. This is bad policing and the authorities should understand that prior to these civilian killings, the situation in Kashmir was gradually inching towards normalcy and thus in such a scenario, it can’t afford bad policing that has a potential to complicate the situation further. Secondly, reports coming in from different areas suggest that police have been cracking down on motorcyclists for reasons better known to the authorities. Seizing motor cycles without any reason and rhyme in not justifiable. The police top brass should come clean as to why some of its forces are indulging in such practices. As already mentioned, extra ordinary situation needs extra ordinary security measures but these measures should be people friendly because these are being taken for the safety and security of the people. Police need to handle the situation with care and ensure that while tightening the grip on the killers, the ordinary citizens are not harassed or humiliated.
