The spurt in targeted killings in union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has sent a wave of concern, not only in the sensitive state under governor’s rule, but also across the country. The recent killings of people from minority community, including employees of PM-package, have sparked intense protests, with the Hindu minority families demanding to be relocated to safe areas.
Two back-to-back top-level meetings took place in Delhi on Friday, which has made clear that the developments have also forced centre to swing into action, as opposition continues to blame the Modi-led government of cashing on Kashmiri Pandit misery, but not doing enough to protect them.
On the security front, there are concerns that Kashmir may return back to the era of full-fledged militancy, though the current situation does not seem to have deteriorated to that extent.
In the backdrop of these developments, HW News spoke to Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda, the former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian army’s Northern Command. The General Officer was the Northern Army Commander during the ‘surgical strike’ in September 2016.
When asked if the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 has any role to play in the surge of targeted killings, Gen Hooda said: “I don’t know whether we should start linking the recent killings to abrogation of Article 370. The terrorists organizations try to prove and show that they are winning this battle. And how they can do that is by trying to question the credibility of government’s claims. The government has earlier claimed that everything is normal in J&K, and it is their plan to resettle Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. Through the recent killings, the terrorists perhaps want to send a message that ‘We are still here, and we are able to target people. So things are not normal.’ These are tactics they use. They are trying to strike at the government narrative.”
Speaking on the demand of the minority community to relocate them to safety, Gen Hooda said the government has responsibility for security of its citizens. “I think they need to take whatever steps are required. You can’t make it into an ego issue.”
“Whenever a terrorist is killing a Kashmiri Pandit or a Hindu, what is he trying to show? He’s trying to show that ‘See, the government is weak. It is not able to protect its citizens’. It’s not something that government cant persist with. So they have to take steps to provide security, even if it means relocating the minority,” he added.
Gen Hooda said that to resolve the problem, there should first be acceptance that a problem exists in Kashmir. “We should accept that everything is not normal. That is something we need to realise and understand. It’s only then that we can start finding solutions to it.”
Responding on the question of whether there has been an intelligence failure to foresee the spurt in attacks in Kashmir, Gen Hooda vehemently disagreed and said that it is not okay to criticise our intelligence agencies.
“The terrorists continue to change their tactics. We have to respond to these things by changing our operational focus. Earlier it was easy because when somebody joined a terrorist organization, he’d put up a photograph on social media with gun and other things. It was easier to identify him. Earlier they would leave home, join terrorism and then never come back home. They’d vanish. Now it’s getting difficult because somebody goes and does something, and returns back home.”
Thus, he said, the intelligence’s focus has to shift and the police need to look deeply into what’s happening in the society. “Certainly, a shift is required in how you focus and gather intelligence.”
When asked if we are unable to track down the Overground workers (OWGs) helping terrorists organizations due to the sympathy within Kashmiri society for them, Gen Hooda said he agrees that this is the case and there’s a need for wider outreach.
“The kind of outreach that’s required towards the youth of Kashmir and civil society, that’s missing. The civil society is currently caught between the security forces and the terrorists. We need to appeal to these people, talk to them, get our network going. If the civil society feels that nobody cares about them, obviously they are not going to talk to the government. That outreach is certainly missing.”
Answering the question on whether there could a political solution to this and if an elected government could make the situation better, Gen Hooda said: “I don’t know if it will resolve all problems, but you need to give political space. You need to give political voice to the people. Whom to elect is their responsibility. They are a democracy. There is a political vacuum, who is going to fill that space? So now you have more extremist elements filling this space. You might criticise the Kashmiri politicians, but they do have a political base there and you need to co-opt them in this fight. You can’t keep them away. You can’t say that there will be complete political vacuum and everything will done from Delhi. I don’t think that approach is going to work in the long run.”
Amid the concerns that recent developments may give rise to militancy in the state again, Gen Hooda declined the possibility of revival of militancy movement again.
“If you recall the 90s, there was situation where Baramulla, Kupwara and other places were liberated zones. Today, I don’t see situation reaching to that extent where development works could be stalled or particular areas could be cut-off completely.”
“See what happened in 2016 after Burhan Wani killing. There was massive uprising in civil population. You don’t see that now. I am not saying that we should underplay the situation. There are sections of society in Kashmir who are not happy with what has happened with respect to Article 370. But to think there could be armed uprising is bit exaggeration. Where will these arms come from?”
Gen Hooda stressed that if we are looking for long-term solutions to problems in Kashmir, then we need to adopt policies that are different from what we are doing today. If we say people are at the heart of our policies, then we must start greater outreach to people. If we say there’s extremism and radicalisation, then we step up efforts to address that. Do we hear of any deradicalisation program taking place? No.”
Gen Hooda highlighted the need for addressing multiple issues to solve the Kashmir problem. “And I am afraid what we are following right now is purely a security-centric approach. That let’s control the security situation and everything will be fine. Unfortunately, that is not true.”
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