The “Police version” [GK front page Feb. 2] regarding the killing of a student by police in Gojwara is completely outrageous to say the least. The “version” that “Parents of young boys should not allow their children to fall prey to stone pelting” came just a day after the student; Wamiq Farooq was killed by cops with a tear a tear gas shell. While the suggestion seems to be quite good on the face of it, there is more than to it than meets the eye. The “version” seems to be like a warning, or say diktat to parents that they must keep their children inside, lest they will meet the same fate as that of Wamiq. Instead of feeling guilty over the killing of a 14-year-old boy, the police is adding salt to the injury by issuing such diktats. The only thing that police has mentioned in its “version” is that the “death” was “unfortunate”. But then it was not a “death” but a “killing” that too under full public glare. And it is not mere “unfortunate”, but brutal. There is no point debating the issue of killings in Kashmir. It is no news at all now. Now the news is other way round; when no one would be killed in Kashmir. Otherwise the genocide is on, as it has been over the years. The pogrom, courtesy police, army and CRPF, goes unabated. And that is precisely because of the “impunity” and “lack of accountability” in the system.
If thing have to move on smoothly, the Head of the state must understand a point at the earliest; that this mayhem will only lead to simmering discontent among the youth, and further alienate the people. We have just seen its “trailer” when a group of veiled youth recently addressed press after Wamiq’s killing, promising to “fight issues their way”. That is an alarm bell for both separatists’ and mainstream circles. Let government not plug the ears! And yes, the rail links, for example, between the Valley and Muzaffarabad would mean something when human feels secure first.
Tehleel Aslam
Srinagar, Kashmir.
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