Seeking apology and acknowledging mistake at the Chattergam incident is perhaps the rarest of the rare case for the army engaged in anti-militancy operation and checking infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir. The remorse comes in the wake of killing of two youths in Budgam District earlier this week. Army has already ordered a probe and assured that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will not come in the way of finding out the truth. The incident had shocked the nation which was reflected in the tweet of Defence Minister Arun Jaitely: “The Budgam incident in the Kashmir Valley is highly regrettable. A fair inquiry will be held and action taken against those found guilty.” But has the government thought of the fall out of such actions which at times may become hurdles in smooth operations of the army in the militancy-affected state? In fact, AFSPA has nothing to do with this. It is the legal action which has to take its own course after the investigation. The fall out of the incident was that the Army Camp in Chattergam was shifted and two companies were interchanged. All these are happening for the first time. There may be earlier such instances but Chattergam incident has gained much publicity. What has prompted army to go for such approach? The resentment across the Valley in the run up to elections may be one of the reasons for swift action by political executives in New Delhi and army top brass in Jammu and Kashmir. Otherwise, the conduct of the teenagers ignoring the signals at two Nakas had potential to be argued, notwithstanding the fact that army should have exercised maximum restraint.
