Ending months of speculation, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, who floated his outfit Rajini Makkal Mandram as a precursor to launching a political party, Sunday made it clear he would neither contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls nor support any party.
He appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to vote for a party who they believe would be able to bring a permanent solution to the water crisis in the state.
“I am not supporting anyone and no one should use my picture or outfit’s flag for political campaign purposes,” he said
“Rajini Makkal Mandram has no support to any party in the upcoming Parliamentary elections. No one should use my photograph or the flags of the Rajini Makkal Mandram for campaigning,” the actor said in a statement.
Rajinikanth, who turned 69 in December 2018, had announced his political entry on December 31, 2017 while interacting with his fans here.
He had then said his to-be-launched political party will contest in all the 234 assembly segments in Tamil Nadu during the next polls, due in 2021.
Gujarat’s ‘diamond city’ Surat has made it to the international aviation map with the first Air India Express flight arriving here carrying 75 passengers from Sharjah, the airline said on Sunday.
The maiden Air India Express flight IX 172 from Sharjah touched down atthe Surat airport at 11.30 pmon Saturday with 75 passengers on board the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the airline said in a statement.
The passengers were received by the airline’s chief executive officer K Shyam Sundar and other dignitaries, it said.
With this, Surat has become the 20th destination in the country for the international budget arm of the flag carrier Air India, the airline said.
The return flight IX 171 carrying 180 passengers for Sharjah departed from the Surat International Airport past midnight at 12.47 am on Sunday, it said.
Air India Express will fly four times a week on the new route, it said.
Surat-Sharjah is the 47th non-stop direct connection of Air India Express between destinations in India and the Gulf region, the release said.
The Air India Express commands as much as 14 per cent of the total air traffic on India-Gulf route, it said.
Besides the Gulf, it operates to South-East Asian countries and also on domestic routes with a fleet of 25 B737s, it added.
One more terror attack in Pulwama, J&K, on February 14, 2019, and this one is very dastardly and bloodiest since 2011 claiming the innocent lives of not less than 45 CRPF Jawans and injuring many. A dreaded Jaish terrorist rammed his SUV which was fully laden with IED explosives of about 300 KGS into a bus carrying the CRPF jawans.
I want to ask, what sort of security system we have at the Indo-Pak border sites and how come the terrorists keep on infiltrating into our territory with heavy arms and ammunition so often? Almost every day, we read at least 2-3 terrorists entering parts of J&K and encounters by our forces happening every day. One should certainly not question the incompetence of our army men and border security forces, but why don’t we have a fool-proof system to stop complete infiltration of terrorists and to shoot them down across the border? How are these terrorists able to reach all the way up to our army base and barracks? In the latest attack in Pulwama, how did the IED explosives loaded SUV manages to cross over the border to target the convoy?
These terrorists don’t bother about their lives. They are “fidayeens” (suicide bombers) and come with a mission and know very well that they will be ultimately killed. However, what concerns me the most is that why the lives of our army men, security forces, policemen should be sacrificed and lost in the process and their families left in the lurch and to fend for themselves?
Today, Pakistan is emboldened by the support from China which has still not declared Pakistan as a terror state and JeM terrorist Mazood Azhar as a dreaded terrorist.
But then, a full-fledged war is certainly not a solution still, as it will lead to severe catastrophic results and even if Pakistan can be completely demolished. No, No! We should not go for a war now! Pakistan is isolated, desperate, fanatic, and mad with all its internal problems! A war with India is the only way to distract the public attention and to untie them! Further, the Pakis will not hesitate to use nuclear weapons that can do a lot of damage to India! India is progressing and has become a force to reckon with, in the eyes of the world. So, we cannot forgo the economic success for a few loss of lives, although tragic and painful!
Dear PM Modiji, enough of talks and escalating the PAK terror matter in the UN and so on. High time you must teach a severe lesson by completely Isolating the terror-nation. As I have maintained several times, we should have NO cultural, bilateral ties, no trade and commerce, transport and sports, no diplomatic relations, no peace talk, no photo-ops at the TAJ and so on. To begin with, hit the nation where it would hurt. Stop water supply and bleed Pakistan.
High time to stop this proxy war which has been going on for decades and in which we have lost number of lives of our jawans than we otherwise would have lost in a conventional war! It’s now or never. Let’s not keep twiddling our thumbs still, but go for actions and prove that India is not an impotent nation! Remember that we have lost the lives of 45 brave hearts just in a day!
Above all, at least now, will the media and the pseudo journos are totally impartial and the opposition support the government and stop sympathising and appeasing the “stone pelters” and “separatists”? Smash those “insiders” and PAK sympathisers. Smash the terror camps for once and for all. Don’t even have a soft corner for the “locals” who provide logistical support to the terrorists.
Above all, ask all those netas (especially the spokespersons and ‘traitor’ leaders of opposition parties) to keep their mouth shut and indulge in precipitating the matter and in blame games. TV channels must stop giving importance to these netas.
It’s high time to think “India first” (and not become traitors like some elite politicians). At all cost each and every politician, leader and the countrymen of this nation must maintain unity. This is the need of the day.
JAI JAWAN, JAI HIND!
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchchi on Saturday where the two ministers discussed bilateral ties and close cooperation between the countries to combat terrorism in the region.
Swaraj en route to Bulgaria, as part of her three-nation tour, had a brief stopover in Iran during which she met with Aragchchi.
“Iran and India suffered from two heinous terrorist attacks in the past few days resulted in big casualties. Today in my meeting with Sushma Swaraj the Indian FM, when she had a stopover in Tehran, we agreed on close cooperation to combat terrorism in the region. Enough is enough!” Araghchi tweeted.
Both India and Iran saw similar suicide attacks targetting their respective paramilitary forces earlier this week.
On February 13, a total of 27 members of Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed after an explosive-laden vehicle targetted the bus which was ferrying the military personnel in Khash-Zahedan sector of Sistan-Baluchistan province in south-eastern Iran.
The bombing also injured 17 others. According to Iranian media, Jaish-al-Adl, a separatist militant group claimed responsibility for the deadly assault.
Several countries, including India, denounced the ghastly terror attack.
On February 14, around 40 CRPF personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district in an attack orchestrated by Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit.
The convoy comprised of 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.
Around 42 martyred jawans were in a bus, into which the terrorist rammed his vehicle with over 100 kg explosives. It was the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir.
Following the assault, India on Friday withdrew the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan. The international community too has expressed support to India in the wake of the attack.
Major Chitresh Bisht, who was killed while defusing a landmine along the LoC in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, was all set to get married next month.
Major Bisht was leading a bomb disposal squad team for sanitisation when mines were detected on the track in Naushera sector on Saturday. The team defused one of the mines successfully but while neutralizing another mine, the device got activated and the officer suffered grievous injuries and died.
As the news of Major Bisht’s martyrdom spread here on Saturday night, scores of relatives and acquaintances visited his house in Nehru Colony to express condolences with his parents.
Major Bisht’s marriage had been finalised and he was to come home on February 28, sourced close to the family said.
The wedding was due on March 7.
Major Bisht’s father SS Bisht is a retired policeman and his mother a housewife. The family hails from Ranikhet in Almora district.
In a tweet, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said, “I salute the supreme sacrifice made by Major Bisht in the service of the nation and send my heartfelt condolences to the martyr’s family. The entire country stands with them in this hour of grief.”
Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya and former chief minister Harish Rawat have also condoled the death of Major Bisht.
Pradesh BJP President Ajay Bhatt and party MLAs Vinod Chamoli and Umesh Sharma Kau were among those who visited the house of the officer.
Curfew continued without any relaxation in Jammu for the third consecutive day on Sunday even as the Army staged flag march in sensitive areas, officials said.
Senior civil and police officers held a marathon meeting with prominent citizens as part of efforts to restore normalcy in the city, they said.
Internal security columns of the Army, which were deployed in the curfew-bound areas, were seen staging flag marches, while dozens of persons were taken into preventive custody to maintain law and order, they said.
Curfew was imposed in Jammu city on Friday following massive anti-Pakistan protests and sporadic incidents of violence over the terror attack in Pulwama district of south Kashmir which left 40 CRPF personnel dead on Thursday.
“Curfew continues to remain in force in the city and there is no untoward incident reported during the night or this morning,” Inspector General of Police, Jammu, M K Sinha, told agencies.
He, however, said minor stone-pelting incidents were reported at a few places on Saturday but overall the situation was under control.
“The situation is being monitored and a decision to relax curfew will be taken later in the day after fresh review of the situation,” he said.
Sinha along with Divisonal Commisioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Kumar Verma and district development commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar held a marathon meeting with prominent citizens of different faiths here late Saturday evening.
The officers appealed to participants to play their role in restoring normalcy in the city and frustrate nefarious designs of elements bent upon dividing people on communal lines.
“Anti-national elements have a design to divide people. They want to change the narrative of a terror incident into a communal incident. We need to stand up united and do not fall prey to their propaganda,” the IGP said addressing the meeting.
He said there is a need to look deeply into the Thursday’s terror attack on CRPF convoy.
“There is a game plan behind the killing of our jawans and it is to divide the society,” he said, asking participants to guide and counsel youngsters to stay away form the violence and help the administration catch those persons who are trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the region.
The officials said 18 Internal Security (IS) columns of Tiger Division along with air support from White Knight Corps continue to remain deployed in curfew-bound areas including Gujjar Nagar, Janipur, Shahidi Chowk, Talab Khatika, Sidhra and other sensitive areas.
While nine columns were deployed on Friday after a requisition by Jammu civil authorities to bring the situation under control, nine more columns were deployed on Saturday.
“Helicopters and UAVs of Armyalso put into operation to monitor the situation. The proactive approach jointly taken by J&K Police, Civil administration (Divisional Commissioner and District Collector’s office) and Indian Army has ensured the situation in control,” a defence spokesman had said.
The officials said dozens of persons were taken into preventive custody as groups of protesters attempted to defy curfew at some pockets including Janipur and New plot in the city on Saturday.
“The police acted promptly and the situation was brought under control,” he said.
Reports of peaceful candle light protests were also reported from almost all district headquarters across Jammu region Saturday night to pay homage to martyrs.
Authorities have deployed security personnel in strength in sensitive areas across Jammu region to maintain law and order, the officials said.
The Pulwama Terror Attack was gruesome even though 70 years have passed after we got our Independence. During these 70 years, several thousands of our innocent soldiers have lost their lives for the country but we are still not able to take any strong action on Pakistan and thus allowing our soldiers to die in the name of peaceful discussions which has failed but instead increased the attacks on our soldiers and also terrorist attacks on innocent people. May the souls of our innocent soldiers who died in the terror attack rest in peace!
Jubel D’Cruz
MPT land should be utilized to strengthen security
Overcrowded Mumbai has a scarcity of land and a roof over one’s head is a luxury for many in a city that is called a ‘Swapna Nagri’ (Dream city). 966 hectares of Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) land hitherto vacant is being released in Mumbai’s new redevelopment plan and preference should be to construct infrastructure and amenities for the men in uniform who guard the city 24×7 which is the reason why we all are safe and at peace in the city. Hardworking Mumbai Police is an exploited lot and time to repay them by giving heavily subsidised housing facilities, education infrastructure and other amenities for which the MPT land can be used to make their lives better and worthy.
Mumbai is a sitting duck for militant attacks and we need to strengthen our security as well as intelligence. Part of MPT land off the ocean on the eastern seaboard should be used to develop high-tech intelligence bureau to intercept any threats to the city and construct a military/navy/air base that can be put to service at times of emergency. The commercial capital of the country is a neglected lot when it comes to security and the available MPT land should be optimally utilized in the best interest of the city!
S.N.Kabra
Strengthen diplomatic channels
The unacceptable brutal terrorist act killing over 40 CRPF Jawans in Jammu and Kashmir may now be seen as ‘the last straw’ to end the acts of global terrorism and everyone will now be anticipating for a stern response by India. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister (also includes Ministry of External Affairs) should now act swiftly to deal with an iron fist to put an end to such terrorist attacks.
As also it is known that even the Hon’ble Ministry of External affairs immediately held meetings with the envoys of P5 nations also with a strong urge to stand by India to curb terrorism. As Demarché is already issued, India should now take a quick conscious decision to recall our diplomatic representatives too. Until the matters are resolved, for now, Ministry of External Affairs should cancel all international delegation invitation and visits extended for any summits, meetings, and conferences.
Military operations apart, India should now strengthen its diplomatic channels too on a full throttle mode and issue a high-pitched decibel warning to those nations supporting such terror acts. An appeal should be made to all the countries through a stern diplomatic channel to join in India’s fight against terrorism. All the nations now should also unanimously stand with India and support its strong attempt to pressurize the UN Security Council (UNSC) to curb terrorism. Diplomatic patrons in New Delhi should make efforts to issue identic note* to all the nations to strictly sever its ties with any country that supports terrorism.
Further, necessary amendments should be made to the ‘Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations’ (1961). Under the circumstances that took place recently in India, the amendments should now be made to immediately curtail all the diplomatic courtesies extended.
P.S.*Identic note – An identic note is a letter delivered from a single state to multiple recipient states.
Varun S D
Shameful
It is heart-breaking to come to know sorrowful news that our country lost about 45 CRPF soldiers in one of the worst terror attacks in the last 20 years in Jammu and Kashmir. A soldier is equal to one thousand common people. This attack let many families remain helpless. It is a cowardly act to take the lives of Jawans who were on duty to provide security for the Nation. They should die with shame that they did such a shameful act that they have been condemned by the whole world. They should not think that this attack will weaken us. We would be stronger after it. India must retaliate against this attack and teach Pakistan such a lesson that they can never dare to touch us again in future and our brave martyrs’ sacrifice does not go in vain.
Muhammad Zaid
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
In a speech regarding the Pulwama terror attack; India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that “India will give a befitting reply to this incident. The security forces have been given full freedom to decide.”
We salute the Prime Minister for granting India’s security forces a free hand to decide the best response to this incident. India’s military leaders now have the opportunity to deploy a proven, state-of-the-art, non-violent alternative if they have the courage and foresight to do so. This alternative can help their warriors gain a strategic and profound proactive advantage. It would prevent future terrorism instead of responding after attacks have occurred, for far less than the cost of conventional defenses. This unconventional yet highly effective approach with a proven scientific record for diffusing terrorism and violence is called Invincible Defense Technology (IDT), based on the non-religious Transcendental Meditation (TM) program.
As strange as it may sound, when large groups of trained practitioners practice the advanced TM techniques together twice a day, a powerful “field effect” of coherence and peace ripples throughout the consciousness of the surrounding population! The bigger the group, the bigger the effect! The outcomes confirmed repeatedly by extensive scientific research, are consistent and measurable decreases in war deaths, terrorism, and crime.
This surprising effect was demonstrated over a two-month period in the summer of 1993, in Washington D.C., where 4,000 meditators gathered for an experiment to lower crime in America’s capital. The result, as documented by an independent board of criminologists, was a 25 percent reduction in criminal violence. (Reference: Social Indicators Research, 1999, 47: 153-201).
In 1983-84, at the peak of fighting in the Lebanon war, as many as 8,000 but as little as a few hundred meditators gathered at different times in Israel, Lebanon, Europe, and the United States. The documented effects of these assemblies included increased cooperation between the warring parties (66 percent) and a decrease of hostilities (70 percent). The odds of these results occurring by chance or any explanation other than the meditation were calculated at one in ten million trillions! (Reference: Journal of Conflict Resolution, 1988, 32: 776-812, and 1990, 34:756-768).
Similarly, large TM groups in Manila, New Delhi, and Puerto Rico have generated significant declines in violent crimes. Alternative explanations could not account for the results. (Reference: Journal of Mind and Behavior, 1987, 8: 67-104).
For a minimal investment of time, manpower, and resources, India’s military could train and maintain a group of about 4,000 experts in the IDT strategy. Think of it as a “prevention brigade” whose members meditate twice a day to defuse the deeply-rooted regional stresses and hatred that are the cause of conflict. The research suggests that once such a program becomes operational, societal conditions in India and beyond would rapidly improve. For as long as the peace-creating group is sustained, the collective coherence throughout society would rise through the influences of greater harmony and peace. Better solutions will occur to the people and their leaders for improving their own living conditions. Violence will subside.
IDT is not restricted to the military; any large groups practicing the IDT techniques can accomplish the goal, meaning all types of citizens could be enlisted, from schoolchildren to retirees. Its coherence-creating effect has also been documented on a global scale in a study published in the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. When large assemblies of civilian IDT experts gathered during the years 1983-1985, terrorism-related casualties decreased 72 per cent, international conflict decreased 32 per cent, and overall violence was reduced in nations without intrusion by other governments.
The Global Union of Scientists for Peace (https://www.gusp.org), a global group of eminent scientists and leaders dedicated to supporting alternative, peaceful means of conflict resolution, have endorsed the IDT approach. Among them are Yukio Hatoyama, former prime minister of Japan; former president of Mozambique Joachim Chissano (who applied IDT programs to end that nation’s civil war); Lt. General (Ret.) Vasyl Krutov, former chief of the Ukraine Anti-Terrorism Center; retired Ecuadorian Lt. General José Villamil (who also applied IDT to end the conflict between Ecuador and Peru).
Given the countless efforts previously tried by India that have not worked, now is the time to utilize this scientifically-validated method. IDT is simple and inexpensive, with a documented record of success: a cutting-edge brain-based technology that could potentially maximize the safety and security of India’s people and curb the bloodshed. Here is an opportunity for India to become a global leader in peace-making, so needed by this troubled world.
At one time, meditation was considered “mystical.” Now, doctors routinely prescribe it, because research shows Transcendental Meditation reduces stress and improves health. Hundreds of studies confirm real benefits for individuals, including better energy, learning ability, job productivity, and happier relationships. The revelation that group meditation reduces turbulence in society and improves the community or global health is simply an extension of the individual practice of meditation.
This is a new proactive paradigm for our times, ready to be implemented for it holds the secret for planetary peace. If wars start in the minds of men, then peace logically ought to start there as well.
About the Authors:
Lt. Gen. Clarence E. McKnight, Jr., (U.S. Army Ret.) is a former Director of Command, Control and Communications Systems for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C.
Major General (Ret.) Kulwant Singh, U.Y.S.M., Ph.D., leads an international group of generals and defense experts that advocates Invincible Defense Technology.
Dr. David Leffler is the Executive Director at the Center for Advanced Military Science (CAMS).
By Lt Gen (Ret) Clarence McKnight, Maj Gen (Ret) Kulwant Singh, and Dr. David Leffler
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
More than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and many others were injured in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber with Mahindra Scorpio carrying more than 200 kg of explosives rammed into a CRPF convoy of 70 vehicles. The attack is being considered as the worst terror attack in decades and it is also observed by the experts that it can’t take place without a proper plan. Why such a gruesome act of terrorism just before the Lok Sabha elections?
Is it to get some religious political mileage by promoting hatred between the Hindus and the Muslims against each other? In a conversation with Afternoon Voice, J&K National Conference member Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari asserted, “Why was the army so negligent while travelling through the militant infested area? Their carelessness killed nearly 50 people. It is an inhuman act. It is unfortunate and shows the weakness of the Indian Army and the central government. The BJP will certainly use this attack as an advantage to get back to power. We don’t care which political party governs the centre, we want our army to be safe.”
The photographs of the attack which got surfaced on the internet clearly showed the charred remains of the vehicles across the highway alongside the blue military buses. Officials also said that the attack was carried out by Adil Ahmad Dar alias “Waqas Commando”, a resident of Kakapora, who had joined the terrorist outfit last year. The scale of the terror strike has exceeded the Uri attack that happened in September 2016, when four heavily armed terrorists targeted an army brigade headquarters causing 19 deaths. However, as per the Indian Army claims, it had responded with a cross-border surgical strike in which destroyed several terror launch pads. J&K BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma expressed, “In Jammu, protests are going on everywhere; Pakistan has done an intolerable offence! The sacrifice of the soldiers will not go in vain. Strict action should be taken against this disgusting incident. This is neither a political situation nor about dividing the Hindus and Muslims. Pakistan has no religion and the Army sacrifice should not go waste. Traitors should not be spared.”
Expressing his anger over the gruesome act of terror in Pulwama, Hazrat Maulana Moin Miya said, “We condemn and criticise the terror attack against the Army in Pulwama. Pakistan should be declared a terrorist nation. This brutal act should not go unpunished. The matter needs to be investigated too as I see that our intelligence agencies have failed too. I will pray that there should be peace in the country. The Hindus and the Muslims should live in unity and peace. Only unity in our country can counter the terrorist forces.”
On the condition of anonymity, a resident of Mumbai told AV,“During 26/11 attack, the then opposition leaders (BJP) blamed Congress and attacked the government saying that it doesn’t have the courage to counter terrorism (Inke Pas Int Ka Jawab Patthar Se Dene Ki Takat Nahi Hai). However, when it comes to them, they seem to be total hell-bent on giving explanations and blame-game; above all, what is hurting the most is that the ‘Bhakts’ are roaming out defending the ruling government as saying that the soldiers have given their lives on Valentine’s Day for the sake and love of their motherland. It is disgusting, shameful, and idiotic.”
Telangana Rashtra Samithi MP Vinod Boyanapalli expressed, “Since the time of independence, India is facing the problem of terrorism. We should not say that the BJP has failed! The problem of J&K is very difficult to resolve. A terror attack can’t polarise voters as our people know it’s an age-old problem faced by the country. The Government of India should start a discussion with Pakistan.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and said, “Those behind the terrorist attack will have to play a heavy price. The terrorists have made a grave mistake. I assure everyone that the forces behind the attack, we will bring forces behind the attack, we will bring them to justice.” Countries from across the globe expressed their will to stand strong with India in combating the menace of terrorism.
Congress MP Nandi Yellaiah stated, “Pulwama attack is a very big loss to the country and we condemn this attack. The people of the country are very hurt and angry. It is very important to find out who are the masterminds behind this attack. PM Modi should himself take charge of the investigation.”
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said, “My heart goes out to the loved ones of each and every victim. I share their pain with all my heart. I sincerely hope that those responsible for this dastardly terror attack will be brought to justice and made to pay for this appalling act which goes against every tenet of humanity.” While commenting on the grave terror attack, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said that the whole Opposition parties are with the government and jawans in this difficult time.
While reports pronounce the Pulwama terror attack as the biggest in the recent years, the data recently released by the Ministry of Home Affairs shows that there has been a 95 per cent rise in the number of the security personnel killed in terrorist attacks. Besides this, these last five years also saw a 176 per cent rise between the number of terrorist incidents in J&K.
On the condition of anonymity, an army officer posted in the northeast region commented, “It’s a sad day for the whole country but what hurts more is to see people commenting in favour of the terrorists, don’t let the sacrifice of the martyrs go in vain like this.”
Modi government has miserably failed to give a “befitting response” to Pakistan. Be it a terror attack or be it disregarding the LoC. Pakistan has been indulging in such actions repeatedly on the LoC and International Border, which is a matter of grave concern as a large number of jawans are being killed; while the ruling party used them for vote bank but nothing is being done to protect their interest. Ahead of the general election, such happenings suggest that it was done with a lot of planning. Pakistan’s Border Action Team resorted to attacks and sniper strikes repeatedly during the recent years, which is very serious. If you listen to PM Modi’s speeches during 2014, you will know what double standards these people have. If Modi himself listens to his speeches, he will not vote for himself. The BJP just brutally attacked the then UPA government but when it came to the power, nothing much was delivered. They had to make a movie to convince people about the most debatable surgical strike after the Uri attack ahead of the 2019 elections. The government might be using many mouthpieces to speak on their behalf and convince the people about their loud claims, however, the ground reality is just different.
There is a strong resentment amongst the people living in the border areas against Pakistan’s actions. Modi-led BJP government had failed to give a befitting response to Pakistan and check its misadventures on the borders.
In January itself, seven soldiers of the Indian Army were killed along the LoC. In 2017, according to the data released by the government, 29 Indian soldiers died while manning the LoC. This is a sharp increase from the year 2016 when 13 Indian soldiers were killed along the LoC. The hostilities between India and Pakistan have been soaring from the last four years, but the latter half of 2017 saw more Indian soldiers being killed than the first six months. Apart from the causalities, the year 2017 also saw a huge spike in cross-border ceasefire violation. According to official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were reported in 2017, compared with 221 the year before.
The LoC is a 776 km stretch of a frontier that snakes across the mountains of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the most intensively manned and militarised border in the world. During the same period, as many as 411 soldiers were martyred in Jammu and Kashmir and 256 civilians lost their lives in terrorist attacks. Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Narender Singh was tortured, tormented, and murdered by Pakistan but the Prime Minister has not uttered even a word on it. Singh’s throat was slit by Pakistani troops after he was fatally shot along the International Border (IB) near Jammu. However, we, the people, just mourned for a day and forgot the same. The brave soldiers from the region have always made supreme sacrifices to protect the frontiers of the nation, as serving in the army is a proud tradition.
District Pulwama came into being in the year 1979 in the larger interests of the maintenance of law and order, closer supervision, more effective control, and above all to ensure balanced development of the area. The district is centrally located in the valley of Kashmir and is a resting place for the adventure tourists since it has abundant water and hospitable countryside. The National Highway NH1 that connects Srinagar and Jammu passes through Pulwama. The militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), that claimed the responsibility for the attack has released a video of the suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar alias ‘Waqas Commando of Gundibagh’. So much planning was done ahead of this terror attack and many clues were also given before this attack but our government and its intelligence forces were busy digging opposition leaders graves then looking in to tackle the threat. The scene of devastation and destruction caused by the suicide car bomb attack that killed at least 42 security personnel sent chills down the spine of unsuspecting locals who witnessed the blood bath. The death toll is likely to increase. The explosive used in the attack was so strong that the blast was heard from 10-12 km away, including some parts of Srinagar adjoining the Pulwama district. Body parts of the terrorist, identified as Adil Ahmad, and the CRPF personnel killed in the attack were strewn on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, where the incident happened.
Some of the bodies were so badly blown up that the officials feel it may take some time to even identify them. This is the first suicide car bomb strike in Kashmir since the 2001 attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that left 41 persons, including three suicide attackers, dead. More than 2,500 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when the suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a bus carrying 39-44 jawans. There was nothing at the scene of the incident to suggest which type of vehicle was used to carry out the attack except the mangled heap of iron of the bus that was the target. As soon as the explosion took place, people started running for safety.
The scene of the incident is not very far from the Commando Training Centre at Lethpora, which was stormed by Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists on December 31, 2017, killing five CRPF personnel. The Jammu-Srinagar Highway has been witness to several terror attacks on the security forces. CRPF bore the brunt of an attack at Pampore, less than seven kilometres from Lethpora, in June 2016, losing eight jawans while 22 others sustained injuries. Terrorists had attacked a CRPF convoy in Pampore area in February that year as well, before taking refuge at a government building. The operation against the holed up terrorists lasted more than two days that resulted in the death of nine persons, including three Army men and three ultras.
The death toll of CRPF jawans in the February 14 suicide attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir has touched 42 after five critically injured jawans succumbed at the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar and the toll is likely to rise. Many more jawans are battling for life in the hospital. Hope this is enough now to take action and stop these attacks on jawans!
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
Ending months of speculation, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, who floated his outfit Rajini Makkal Mandram as a precursor to launching a political party, Sunday made it clear he would neither contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls nor support any party.
One more terror attack in Pulwama, J&K, on February 14, 2019, and this one is very dastardly and bloodiest since 2011 claiming the innocent lives of not less than 45 CRPF Jawans and injuring many. A dreaded Jaish terrorist rammed his SUV which was fully laden with IED explosives of about 300 KGS into a bus carrying the CRPF jawans.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchchi on Saturday where the two ministers discussed bilateral ties and close cooperation between the countries to combat terrorism in the region.
More than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and many others were injured in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber with Mahindra Scorpio carrying more than 200 kg of explosives rammed into a CRPF convoy of 70 vehicles. The attack is being considered as the worst terror attack in decades and it is also observed by the experts that it can’t take place without a proper plan. Why such a gruesome act of terrorism just before the Lok Sabha elections?