THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) action-reaction spiral based upon Targetting of JK Policemen’s families response by terrorists against Excelsior leven family members of policemen’s families and the sub- Established 1965 policemen of the J&K sequent counter will let loose a Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra EPolice (JKP) were kid- A new turn in the proxy war bloody cycle and create yet anoth- napped by terrorists on 30 Aug er uncontrollable situation which 2018 from some villages and to the separatist movement. Over Lashkar e Taiyaba (LeT) in Nov families of terrorists too. that. People need to realize why. A will give boost to further alienation. towns of South Kashmir. It sig- the last two years many policemen 2017 and was later motivated by Explanations that forces of the police force has many compo- JKP’s professionalism will be test- Take all stakeholders naled a turn in the long standing have been killed in targeted his parents to return with the help government do not target inno- nents – only the armed police is ed and actually diluted if this were proxy conflict in J&K because killings especially when off duty in of the police. In fact little is it cents unlike the terrorists, who organized as units and live in to happen and the Army would be on board for polls strangely an ethical element of the their homes. It’s to the credit of the known that the Army itself had set have no apparent obligations secure billets or are deployed as left on its own with intelligence and conflict had thus far avoided any force that despite the threats and up a high profile orphanage towards rules of conflict, cut no sub units. The rest of the police the campaign against financial net- ow that the schedule for Municipal and focused terrorist campaign to tar- the tragic deaths, JKP as a force (Muskaan) to cater to wards of ice across most of the country. personnel, especially those work- works taking a back seat. get policemen’s or soldier’s fami- has continued to remain at the neutralized terrorists and also Many suggested and in fact even ing in police stations and as traffic Securing the police families is a Panchayat elections is announced to be lies. Through many years the pro- forefront of the CT campaign. assist some NGOs who run such inquired why the concept adopted policemen live in their homes difficult task. First there is the phys- held in four and eight phases respec- fessions continued to receive The eleven family members facilities for children of conflict. by the Punjab Police during the making them doubly vulnerable. ical security where some temporary N respect from the locals. efforts can be made in clubbing vul- in question were released Thus intimidation of terrorist fam- Punjab militancy could not be Many feel that an enraged local tively in Jammu and Kashmir beginning from Policemen, as it is, mostly reside unharmed with a message from ilies has never been a norm except duplicated here; they were once police force, seething at terrorist nerable families or enhancing the Oct 1 and concluding on December 4, the at their homes or return to them Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) leader perhaps in the case of some unre- again recalling that the Police attempts to target its families, will number of policemen and families process is sparred with the National very frequently being locally Riyaz Naikoo claiming that HM lenting ones who insisted on facil- leadership in Punjab in 1990 legit- automatically respond in kind and inside police lines. None of this is a deployed. The ratio of young men resorted to the act in retaliation for itating the activities of the terror imized targeting of terrorist fami- be victorious in outcome. There is permanent solution as family con- Conference making its stand clear that it was turning up for recruiting rallies for the Army, Special Operations groups. The terrorists on their part lies which forced terrorists to no such guarantee. The level of nections are widespread and thus not inclined to participate in these elections the two forces, against the number Group (SOG) and JKP actions of have rarely targeted policemen in relent and cease their targeting local alienation in Kashmir is vulnerability of all is high. What the of vacancies has always been targeting terrorist homes and the cogent and focused way that campaign. many notches higher than ever police are capable of doing is and would boycott them unless the Centre extremely high and continues to members of their families a day they have now resorted to. There It’s an interesting mix of senti- experienced in Punjab. In fact the undertake a social awareness cam- made its stand "clear" on the vexatious issue of be even today. earlier. Naikoo’s father had appar- is no doubt that JKP with its local ments and a paradox of sorts Punjab gentry did not take to sup- paign for the people to accord coop- The targeting of policemen and ently been picked up by the police content is a huge asset. Its advan- emerging in the situation in the porting the terrorist elements in erative security to the police fami- Article 35A. It may be recalled that the issue is to lesser extent local soldiers after the killing of four local tages in terms of local knowledge, Valley. Quick fix solutions people the manner we are witnessing in lies. This needs a sophisticated under the consideration of the Apex Court of enrolled with the Indian Army, policemen in an ambush near intelligence, liaison and advice are seek are going to remain elusive Kashmir; flash mobs at terror communication strategy which however, has undoubtedly been a Shopian. Unconfirmed reports something that the Army and and the temptation to employ hideouts was not even imagined in must be professionally set up for it. the country. part of terrorist strategy for very and media sources stated that CRPF fully utilize. counter violence against innocents Punjab. Ethically, any campaign The JKP has always come in At the outset, the Centre had, prima facie, long; a ploy to break their will and under some kind of new policy, Ill-informed social media is going to exacerbate rather than against innocents always ends for high praise for its professional- prevent local inhabitants from the JKP along with the Army were burst out with sentiments demand- resolve anything. A few issues with egg on the face and is no ism, loyalty and patriotism. More got nothing to do in the matter till the court being seen to be visibly in support tasked to interrogate families with ing retaliation against the families need to be highlighted before accepted way of conducting a needs to be done for it as far as verdict which at the moment was with the sta- of the counter terrorist (CT) cam- terrorist links and place pressure of terrorists. My own tweet asking examining the potential direction counter campaign. Where evi- terms and conditions of service tus of being posted for hearing in January paign of the Army and the J&K on them. Contact by Army and people in India to condemn the this can take. dence of involvement of terrorist are concerned. It’s a resource that Police (JKP). Stray killing of JKP with families of terrorists is terrorist action against innocent People must never view the families in over ground support or the sponsors across the LoC know 2019. However, Dr. Farooq, the NC Patron informers linked to the police have nothing new. It has been a norm to families was re-tweeted over security situation purely from the otherwise is proved legal action is a major asset in India’s quiver. wants the Central Government as also the occurred and some policemen urge the parents and other close 20000 times but the comments Army’s angle and wonder why the must be initiated. We need to be extremely careful themselves were targeted. Yet, relatives to appeal to terrorists, expressed anger and even regret JKP cannot secure its own. The The temptation to target fami- in doing anything which may State Government to take a "positive there was no large scale campaign especially newly inducted ones, to that the Army and other security concept of policing and soldiering lies with links to those in terrorist upset its equilibrium. Once that is favourable " stand in and outside the court. as being witnessed in the past six return to normal life. Some high forces (SF) were not doing in a hybrid proxy conflict has dif- ranks is something that will please lost, regaining it may just remain months in particular. Post the profile actions have been publi- enough to send home a strong ferent strokes. The Army after the sponsors of proxy war who an elusive dream. He termed the decision of the Government to killing of Burhan Wani, police cized in the past with return of message to the terror groups; the operating in the field returns to the would probably get another oppor- (The author is former GOC of hold the Local Bodies polls as "taken in a hur- homes were targeted and many Majid Khan the 20 year old foot- strong message that most advocat- secure environment of its billets tunity to further their campaign Srinagar based 15 Corps). families forced to swear allegiance (In agreement with Swarajya.com) ried way" which did not take into considera- ball player who had joined the ed was a tit for tat action to target and camps; the JKP does not do without having to work for it.