Dear Editor,
The familiar scenes of stone-pelting locals clashing with gun-toting security personnel are now being re-enacted at a terrible cost to human life. With even areas that were considered peaceful rising up in revolt and people risking their lives by entering security installations, events seem to have taken a turn for the worse.
It is extremely unfortunate that the security forces are following the Israeli model of crowd control by using pellet guns. It needs reiteration that the Kashmir problem is not amenable to a military solution. Given the sense of alienation among people, it calls for greater political engagement. It is a welcome move that the Home Ministry has counselled the security forces to avoid the use of force against the protesting local residents.
G. David Milton,
Via-e-mail
