Month later, Kaluchak turns rage into resolve

A special remembrance ceremony was organised at Kaluchak today in memory of those killed by terrorists on May 14. ‘‘We need to stay together and comfort each other. This remembrance ceremony is to bring our army family closer,’’ a senior officer of the Nagrota based 16 Corps said.

Doctors at Kaluchak have been speaking to families of officers and jawans living at the military cantonment and constantly reassuring them of their support, love and protection.

‘‘At this stage, we all need to be together. While the men fight at the borders, they need to be reassured that even their families are soldiers, not civilians,’’ he added.

‘‘Two girls were killed while their mother was tying their hair for school. Another child was killed as she was brushing her teeth in the bathroom. The images fill me with rage,’’ Maj Gen Sharma said.

‘‘But I take a deep breath and control my anger. I want my rage to turn to cold fury. Even if there is another Kaluchak, we will not retaliate in anger. It will be a well thought out and deliberate plan executed at a place and time of our choosing,’’ he added.

According to Lieutenant General J.B.S. Yadava, the Kaluchak massacre was the ‘‘gravest provocation’’ by Pakistan. ‘‘We have information about the ISI giving them specific instructions about the action to create terror. But we are resilient and will not be provoked,’’ he said.

‘‘What has hurt us immensely are the post-incident wireless intercepts which congratulate the terrorist groups and exhort them to carry out more attacks,’’ Sharma added.

So while the army has beefed up its security at all military cantonments a month after the attack, it is still trying to come to terms with the incident.