STATE TIMES NEWS
Rajouri: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said he had full faith in the Indian Army that it will wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir, even as he urged the troops to not make any such “mistakes” that may hurt the citizens of the country.
It is the responsibility of the troops to win the hearts of the people while performing their duty towards the security of the nation, said Singh, who arrived in Jammu and Kashmir earlier in the day to review the security situation.
Singh is on a day-long visit to Rajouri and Jammu following a terrorist ambush in Poonch.
The Minister’s statement comes amid the outrage that sparked in the wake of three civilians being found dead in Poonch district on December 22 allegedly after they were picked up by the security forces for questioning in connection with an ambush on two army vehicles that had left four soldiers dead a day earlier.
Defence Minister along with LG meets families of 3 slain civilians, assures justice
Rajouri/Jammu: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday assured justice to the families of three civilians who were found dead last week after being allegedly picked up by the Army following an ambush on two of Army vehicles in Poonch district. Singh, accompanied by Army chief General Manoj Pande and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, reached Rajouri district this afternoon, where he met the families of the deceased and also visited the Government Medical College (GMC) to enquire about the health of four other “torture” victims. Several District Development
Council (DDC) members, former legislators and civil society members were also present at the meeting between the defence minister, Lt Governor and the families of the deceased civilians.
“Please have faith in us. Nobody can bring back to life of those who have died. But there will be justice,” Singh told five members of three families of the deceased.
Singh further said that they are all pained at the loss of lives in Poonch.
“We all – I, LG Sahib and Prime Minister Ji – are pained,” he told the kin in presence of Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar and IGP Anand Jain.
“Whatever has happened…there will be justice,” the defence minister told reporters at the GMC hospital where he had reached after meeting the families of the deceased civilians at Dak Bungalow.
“The Defence Minister met the families of the civilians, civil society and assured action against the guilty after an inquiry into the incident,” former MLC Shahnaz Ganai, who was present in the meeting at Dak Bungalow, told PTI.
She said they are hopeful that the victim families will get justice, given the visit of the defence minister to share the pain and his assurance.
The Defence Minister, accompanied by Army chief General Manoj Pande and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, flew to Rajouri district soon after his arrival in Jammu to review the security situation, especially in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch where terror attacks and infiltration attempts from across the Line of Control (LoC) have witnessed a spike this year.
Addressing the troops at a military garrison in Rajouri, the defence minister lauded the troops for their bravery. “I believe in your bravery and steadfastness Terrorism should be finished from Jammu and Kashmir and you need to move forward with this commitment. I have full faith that you will achieve victory,” Singh, flanked by General Pande and Lt Governor, said.
Four soldiers were martyred and three others were injured when their vehicles were ambushed by terrorists at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Buffliaz in the Surankote area of Poonch on December 21.
Three civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were allegedly picked up by the army for questioning following the attack. They were found dead the next day. Soon, video clips purportedly of torture of the detained civilians went viral on the social media.
“Such incidents (ambush) cannot be taken for granted. I know you are alert to the situation but feel more alertness is required. I want to assure you that the government stands with you and your welfare is our top priority,” Singh said.
The Defence Minister asked the troops to avoid “mistakes that hurt the citizens of the country.”
“The Indian Army is not considered an ordinary force in the world. The people accept that the Army is much more powerful than ever and also well-equipped compared to the past. You are the guardians of the nation but alongside protecting the country, you need to win the hearts of the citizens. It is a big responsibility on your shoulders,” the Minister said.
“There is a need to do it with more seriousness and it can be achieved by meeting the people, listening to their problems and raising those issues at appropriate level for redressal,” he said.
Singh paid his tributes to the fallen soldiers and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel.
“I want to assure you that given the seriousness of the incident, required and appropriate steps would be taken. For us, every soldier is a part of the family and his life is very precious any one eyeing our soldiers is not acceptable to us,” he said.
“The government treasury is open for further beefing up the security and the intelligence gathering,” he said.
“The sacrifice of the soldiers is unparalleled and cannot be compensated with money. The void can never be fulfilled,” he added.
