J038;K146;s ugly reminder

The assassination of J038;K8217;s minister of education, Ghulam Nabi Lone, on Tuesday morning has caused widespread revulsion 8212; even among those who profess separatist sentiments. It comes at a time when the entire state administration is pre-occupied in reaching succour to those whose lives have been rendered hellish after the October 8 earthquake. Indeed, militant groups across the border had even made very public declarations of the temporary suspension of hostilities during this difficult period in a bid to stay on the right side of public opinion.

What does this strike, taken in tandem with last Monday8217;s heinous killing of members of two families in Rajouri, and the slaying of a CPM leader in Matan on Monday, say about their perpetrators? Do the attacks signify a dangerous desperation or an equally disturbing insouciance towards the sentiments and trauma of ordinary people? Difficult to say. The only thing that can be stated with absolute certainty is that there is just no scope for complacency 8212; even at an abnormal time like the present one, when an earthquake has wreaked widespread havoc. There has been of late the general view that the earthquake has demolished many of the terrorist camps operating from across the border and that militancy has taken a hit. These drawing room theories have more than a whiff of wishful thinking to them. Terror networks created over years do not melt away in the face of a natural calamity. That Lone8217;s killers could so easily penetrate Srinagar8217;s high security Tulsibagh locality points to a criminal lowering of guard at the most basic level. We just cannot afford such shabby security, such casual policing, at a critical juncture in the state8217;s history. We cannot lower our guard even in the face of significant prospects for peace.

The latest attack needs to be condemned in a clear and unequivocal manner by every party that has a stake in the peace process and the well-being of the region, including ordinary Kashmiris. Pakistan8217;s official condemnation is a step in the right direction. It now needs to be more pro-active in joining India in identifying and isolating these brutal agents of terror. We need to be alert and unremitting in our fight against terror if we are not to slide down the slippery slope to status quo ante.