The image that narrates a tale of terror and agony

The image that narrates a tale of terror and agony

A heart-wrenching image from Kashmir went viral on July 1. Three-year-old Ayaad sat on the body of his grandfather Bashir Ahmed Khan (65) after the latter died during a gunfight between security forces and militants in Sopore, Kashmir. 

Adding to the melancholy of the situation, a video also surfaced on the social media along with the photos showing the child in a police vehicle, speaking in broken Kashmiri, "be gache gare (I want to go home)".

The incident took place when the CRPF patrol party who were on their routine patrol in Sopore town of Srinagar were attacked by militants hiding in the attic of a mosque. 

The authorities said that Bashir Ahmed was hit by a bullet fired by a militant and they rescued the child from the crossfire. But the Bashir's family said he was shot in cold blood by the security forces from point-blank range.

The statement may have saved the officials from the wrath of the press. However, by disclosing the identity of a minor witness of a crime, doesn't Kashmir Zone Police stands in violation of Article 74 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015?

The entire incident took a controversial turn when the BJP leader Sambit Patra stormed Twitter with his uncanny way, digging out his past grudges with Pulitzer winners from the valley.

Well, his twitter response has vailed a question on who clicked the Photo at the time of encounter? 

IGP Vijay Kumar told a local news agency, "Going to an operations area with mobiles is wrong. I will ensure that police teams going for operations don't carry mobiles with them as that may pose a threat to their lives. In 2018, many security forces personnel were killed while using their mobiles during duty hours and in standoff attacks."

Almost a week back, a similar accident near the banks of Jhelum a father lost his four-year-old son Nihaan in Bijbehara town of Srinagar. 

It has been ten months since the Narendra Modi government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir believing this move would bring a new dawn of peace and development in the troubled region. However, the ground reality is well reflected in the visuals of coffins and bloodshed

There seems to be a loop and educated young men are not hesitating to join the militant groups to avenge the deaths and sufferings. Where does it stop?

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