The government both at the centre and in the state show concerns over the attacks on army ,paramilitaries and police in different parts of Kashmir but are least bothered to utter even single word over the harassment of the civilians populations during cordons and searches carried out to nab the militants. None from the government speaks about the populations becoming vulnerable to cordons and search operations conducted by police and paramilitaries in the aftermath of attacks on government forces in populated areas of the state. Taking a serious note of the attacks on army and paramilitary convoys and conducting cordons and searches for stopping attacks is a good idea for the security of government forces but government not taking note of the vulnerability of civilian populations to the cordons and search operations by government forces is more greater area of concern for the people in Kashmir. For the last more than six months army and paramilitaries have been facing serious charges of harassment from the populations where they lay cordons and conduct search operations. While the government is obliged to take care of the security of the army , paramilitaries and police, the law enforcement authorities are equally obliged to take care of the security concerns of the populations where the government forces lay traps and conduct searches. Taking measures to lessen the possibilities of attacks on army , paramilitaries and police is as much a greater security concern as is the security of the populations where government forces lay traps and conduct searches. So for the government has not even bothered to even hint at the possibility of probing the complaints of the populations who have alleged the government forces of committing unpardonable excesses on people during cordons and search operation in different areas and latest such glaring example is the alleged ransacking of residential houses and shops in two villages of Shopian district in South Kashmir after a surprising victory of Pakistan in the ongoing champions trophy cricket match.
Government can’t keep on stabilizing security for the safety of the army paramilitaries and police and shutting eyes to the allegations of harassment and excesses against the forces during cordons and search in Kashmir.
While the greater concern of the government on the security of army and paramilitaries is unquestionable but it is also a fact that the government showing no concern over the allegations of attacks on public and private properties against the government forces during cordons and searches is questionable. Many a times in the past people in the aftermath of excesses during search and cordons sought action against the government forces over the allegations of damaging public and private properties, but government often turns a deaf ear to demands for actions against the government forces over the allegations of damaging public and private properties. If government and security agencies want to silence the critics alleging excesses during searches and cordons by government forces, better for them to take care of the public concerns on rising allegations of harassment and excesses against the forces during search and cordons in Kashmir. Government can’t keep on stabilizing security for the safety of the army paramilitaries and police and shutting eyes to the allegations of harassment and excesses against the forces during cordons and search in Kashmir.
