Attacks put a strain on Mufti's healing touch policy

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed''s "healing touch'''' policy will come under severe strain following the latest terrorist attacks on an Army camp in Akhnoor and on pilgrims at Katra.
After the incident in which a brigadier and seven jawans were killed, the Army will not only be tightening security but will also intensify its counter-insurgency operations.Although the Army has promised to minimise its own and civilian casualties in its future operations, these cannot be ruled out completely. This could end up compounding the Mufti''s worries as questions will then be raised about his election promise to minimise harassment and human rights violations by security personnel.
As it is, the Mufti has been doing a tightrope walk ever since he came to power nine months ago. On one hand, he has to keep his promise to provide a "healing touch'''' to people of the strife-torn state. And yet his government can hardly afford to let down its guard as it is officially admitted that infiltration in J&K is still continuing and that another 2,500 to 3,000 militants are already operating in the state. The latest terrorist attacks have only strengthened the case for allowing greater freedom and flexibility to the security forces.
To some extent, the Mufti has ensured that the common man is not subjected to harassment from security forces. The visible presence of security forces personnel, at least in Srinagar, has been reduced. On the other hand, there were three custodial deaths in the space of five days last week. While the Mufti''s government has been quick to respond whenever any such incident takes place in this case he immediately ordered a judicial probe disillusionment among the people is building up.
More and more people are questioning the efficacy of the CM''s healing touch. "The government claims it has disbanded the dreaded Special Operations Group...the name might have changed but the old atrocities continue,'''' remarked a Srinagar resident. Others describe the Mufti''s much-touted healing touch policy as a mere facade for, according to them, nothing has changed on the ground.
The Mufti''s aides are well aware that these incidents of civilian deaths are not being received well by the public. But they maintain though the scale of violence has come down since their government came to power, all such cases get magnified as "people do not expect that any such incident will take place during our regime''''.