Author: Statesman News Service
Publication: The Statesman
Date: May 31, 2004
The killing of militants and security
forces has become a routine feature in Jammu and Kashmir. But what is not
routine is the fact that the chief minister of India's most sensitive state
does not bother to attend the funerals of securitymen killed battling militancy.
Instead, he attends the funerals of terrorists slain by the security forces,
undermining the latter's morale.
The most glaring incident is his
failure to attend the funeral of the 29 BSF men and their family members,
who were killed in a landmine explosion at Qaziqund, Anantnag, last Sunday.
He did not even utter a word of praise or commiseration for those killed.
The men in uniform fighting insurgency in the state are a demoralised lot
today. Be it the Border Security Force, the Central Reserve Police Force,
the Army or the J&K police, for the past 18 months, since the Mufti
Sayeed-led coalition took over, the killings of uniformed men have gone
unheralded. Not even once since November 2002 did Mr Sayeed make it to
the last rites of slain security personnel. People close to the Mufti argue
that the chief minister does not attend the funerals as a matter of policy,
a point that has not gone down well with his critics.
"Former chief minister Dr Farooq
Abdullah was not only vocal in condemning acts of terrorism but used to
make it a point to attend the funeral of uniformed men killed by terrorists,"
said a retired police officer.
The reason why Mr Sayeed doesn't
attend the funerals, the officer said, is his leanings towards militant
groups, especially the Hizbul. Anantnag is considered a stronghold of Hizbul
Mujahideen militants. Many allege that the chief minister, who floated
his own regional party - Peoples Democratic Party - in the summer of 1999,
had an undeclared understanding with the Hizbul men there for not only
the October 2002 Assembly elections, but also the recently concluded parliamentary
elections in which his daughter Ms Mehbooba Mufti was elected to the Lok
Sabha from Anantnag.
"It is an open secret that Ms Mufti
used to bash up 'Indian forces' in the Valley before the PDP came to power."
an official said. Dr Abdullah has already accused the Mufti of being "hand-in-glove"
with terrorists. The Mufti's critics also say that he is very guarded whenever
he has to speak about terrorists. "Not even once does he use the word terrorists
but dubs them as enemies of peace," said an Army officer.
