Srinagar, Feb 5: The detention of over 500 people in a massive crackdown following the killing of an ex-soldier has sparked sharp criticism, with political parties questioning the motive behind this security measure.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) leader and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Ruhullah Mehdi on Wednesday hit out at the Union government over these detentions saying that punishing an “entire population” for the “actions of a few is not counterterrorism but collective retribution.”
There have been reports that over 500 people have been detained in a massive crackdown across the valley in wake of killing of a retired soldier Manzoor Ahmad Wagay in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday. His wife and niece were also wounded in the terror attack.
The report said that those detained were largely relatives of Kashmiri militants based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and this measure were aimed at sending a message to militants operating from across the border that “such attacks won’t be tolerated.”
“I have been briefed about reports of over 500 individuals being rounded up by the SOG (Special Operation Group of J&K Police) in sweeping nocturnal raids across Kashmir. The number is suspected to be much higher in actuality. I fail to imagine the terror of a family whose loved ones now lie in the abyss of an opaque security system. This is not security. This is punishment by exile,” MP Mehdi said in a post on X.
While unequivocally condemning the recent attack on a Territorial Army soldier and his family, Mehdi asserted that counterterrorism measures should not translate into collective punishment for the entire population.
“Violence, especially against women and children, is abhorrent. But to punish an entire population for the crimes of a few is not counterterrorism – it is collective retribution. The establishment in Kashmir and in Delhi need to arrive at a common denominator as far as conducting operations in Kashmir is concerned. The use of vague, legally unsound terminology such as “OGWs,” “Hybrid Militants”, etc. to justify human rights violations must be shunned,” he added.
“No regime in the world has successfully governed a population by making itself the object of its people’s fear and resentment. I strongly remind you of the moral calculus at play here, if you must rule by repression, then you have already lost your legitimacy. If your idea of democracy is a valley silenced by fear rather than engaged in dialogue, then your democracy lies in darkness,” the MP said.
Peoples Democratic Party leader PDP leader Iltija Mufti hit out at these detentions and asserted that this is totally wrong.
She hit out at the ruling National Conference for their silence over the issue.
“Why is the state government which got a massive majority silent over this?…Not even a single state minister has given any statement regarding it.. The situation remains unchanged even after the formation of the government, as the atmosphere of arrests and threats continues to prevail in Kashmir,” she told reporters after visiting the Wagay’s house on Kulgam.
CPI(M) leader and Member of J&K Legislative Assembly M Y Tarigami termed the detentions as deeply disturbing.
“Reports of nocturnal raids and arbitrary detentions following a terror attack in Behibagh area of Kulgam are deeply disturbing. While the killing of innocent people deserves strongest condemnation, subjecting an entire community to collective punishment is unjust & unacceptable,” he said in a post on X.
Kashmiri separatist leader and chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the arrests unprecedented.
“..Every such killing and causing injury to innocents is condemnable, but to target and detain in hundreds family members and relatives of those associated with militancy, because of their relationship, is harassment. It vitiates the atmosphere and furthers hostility. Authorities should release these people immediately,” Mirwaiz said.
UNI
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