Tragically, innocent lives have been lost in Rajouri again, leaving their families in ruins. The firing incident that resulted in the deaths of two people is serious, and considering the conflicting accounts that have surfaced while attempting to present the truth, it is urgently necessary to conduct a thorough investigation to answer the many challenging questions that have resulted from it. The locals, who participated in a day-long protest, are expressing something completely different from what the army has stated.
There is anger among the locals following the killings, which are said to have occurred after the “unknown terrorists” fired upon two men who work in private shops inside the cantonment. This anger is, in part, justified because it all happened outside the cantonment, and the people have a right to demand answers from the army in this regard. Both the army and the police have a duty to give those explanations and inform the public of what happened and who killed these two defenceless guys who were out early to earn their living.
Political parties have emerged, as was expected, releasing statements, raising concerns, and calling for an unbiased investigation to determine the truth and the circumstances surrounding the killings. The police tried everything to pacify the protestors throughout the day, but nothing worked until the police actually registered a case and began an investigation. Even though nothing noteworthy has surfaced thus far, the government must make sure that those responsible for the killings are found and prosecuted because the LG-led administration has consistently stated that the innocent will be protected at all costs and that those who are responsible for spilling the innocent blood will face punishment.
The time has come for the government to live up to the people’s expectations and show them that it is committed to punishing the guilty as well as protecting the common people. Anyone trying to harm innocent people must not be spared, and it is necessary to hold such individuals accountable for endangering the safety and security of J&K’s common citizens. Even the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has referred to the Rajouri occurrence as “serious” while calling for a judicial investigation to guarantee a fair and impartial investigation, which is exactly what is required. In addition to opening an investigation, the government ought to provide the families of the two men who were killed with substantial compensation. The money won’t bring the dead back, but the relatives of the departed must be given the help they need to continue living with the “reality” that their loved ones were killed by “unknown terrorists”.
