Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and Member of the Legislative Assembly M.Y. Tarigami has strongly condemned the killing of a Jammu and Kashmir Police constable and urged authorities to conduct the subsequent investigation strictly within legal parameters. Tarigami cautioned that resorting to indiscriminate arrests and harassment of the populace could exacerbate alienation and hinder efforts to isolate anti-social elements responsible for violence.
His statements come in the wake of a widespread security operation across Kashmir following the fatal shooting of a police constable in Anantnag district earlier in the week. Official sources have indicated that more than 3,500 individuals suspected of being overground workers (OGWs) have been detained as part of the ongoing security measures. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the scale of these detentions has raised concerns among various political and social groups regarding the methods employed.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Tarigami characterized the constable’s death as a deeply regrettable and highly condemnable act, expressing his full solidarity with the Jammu and Kashmir Police. He acknowledged the challenging circumstances under which the police force operates, stating that such violent incidents warrant unequivocal condemnation. Tarigami emphasized the necessity of identifying those responsible through a fair and professional investigation, ensuring they are brought to justice in accordance with the law. He stressed that accountability must be fixed on individuals directly involved in the crime.
However, the veteran leader voiced significant reservations about what he described as “indiscriminate and unabated arrests,” particularly noting the large-scale detentions reported in south Kashmir in the aftermath of the incident. Tarigami asserted that while acts of violence are universally condemned, the response from law enforcement agencies must remain firmly within the bounds of the Constitution and the rule of law. He argued that a proper investigation, substantiated by concrete evidence, is the only effective means of apprehending the perpetrators. The CPI(M) leader highlighted that historical experiences have demonstrated the counterproductive nature of mass arrests, which have neither demonstrably enhanced security nor fostered peace.
Instead, Tarigami explained, such broad-stroke detentions often breed resentment among the local population, inadvertently bolstering the narratives of destabilizing forces. He pointed out that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have endured the devastating consequences of violence for over three decades, and that defeating violence cannot be achieved by infringing upon the rights of innocent citizens. Continuous harassment, he warned, fuels anger and alienation, thereby complicating the crucial task of isolating anti-social and anti-people elements. The CPI(M) leader underscored the critical importance of public confidence in effectively combating militancy, calling for security agencies to operate with professionalism, fairness, and transparency, rather than relying on sweeping detentions.
Furthermore, Tarigami criticized the recurring practice of detaining individuals who have previously been arrested and subsequently released, deeming such actions as arbitrary and inappropriate. He suggested that a more targeted and evidence-based approach to law enforcement would be more conducive to restoring normalcy and building trust between the security forces and the community. The leader’s remarks reflect a broader concern within certain sections of society about the potential for collective punishment and the erosion of civil liberties during heightened security operations. The focus, he implied, should remain on precise intelligence gathering and due process to ensure that justice is served without alienating the wider population, a delicate balance that has often proven difficult to strike in the region.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
Leave a Reply