The media inserts on eulogising and justifying the act of the young major, who supposedly adopted an unconventional method of evacuating colleagues deployed on election duty on the fateful evening of 9 April 2017 merits a serious debate on Army practices in the tricky business of conflict resolution.
It certainly amazes me that various individuals and groups are taking sides on a method which to my mind was unethical and in clear terms ‘Not Right’.
However, it must also be appreciated that there are times when a commander on the ground, due to circumstances, is forced to take a particular course of action, but it must also be appreciated that all acceptable action is measured with a scale of humanity and ethical conduct.
I also fail to comprehend that many former Chiefs have gone on record to support the Major’s unethical way of protection and many a colleague in arms has given credit to the officer's so called ‘brave act’ by recognising him and awarding the so called ‘Officer and a Gentleman’ with a Commendation card. As per practice awards are announced during specific periods i.e. prior to Republic and Independence Days.
However when such recognition is announced early with premature pinning on the breast pocket and that too immediately after such a display of misplaced courage, it squarely reflects a supposed diffused pressure being administered on the military hierarchy and that is worrisome.
No amount of justification of the timing of the award is palatable and this should not be encouraged except in times of an all out war.
Even if for a moment we acknowledge the fact that it was a great initiative undertaken and appreciate his innovative way of performing a distinctly different ‘Art and Craft’ of warfare, then is such a tactical mistake going to be accepted when others adopt a similar position?
Will such steps bring the ‘People and the Protected’ closer to one another or will the gap increase and the divide become more distinct? If such a tactical venture is acknowledged favorably by the mentors deployed to ensure peace and tranquility, then there is a possibility that instead a youth being paraded or strapped as flashed over the media, a senior citizen or for that matter even a woman could be used as a human shield.
The converse could also be a possibility and I further shudder to think what if the terrorists adopt similar methods and strap a soldier taken hostage, especially soldiers from my own Regiment, ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry’ who go home on leave and are soft targets.
My take is that a disciplined force has to follow certain rules of engagement and look at long term benefits rather than short and immediate supposed gains.
I am a proud soldier of a first class Infantry Battalion, 8 JAK LI (SIACHEN), the Battalion with the highest number of decorations and awards since Independence with the covetous ‘Bravest of Brave’ title, given after having been bestowed the award of a PVC and an Ashok Chakra and no dent in its image will ever be acceptable.
In the instant case I am sure a good unit would have anticipated various situations with an eviction plan if necessary, well planned and rehearsed several times over.
If that was the case an innovative solution and certainly not the likes of the one executed should have been demonstrated with a firm resolve. Surely strapping up a civilian could not have been amongst the planned options available to the security forces.
I thought it would have been appropriate to suggest that mistakes need to be acknowledged with equal resolve and the matter be put to rest rather than challenging those against such a method.
I am equally surprised at the office of the Public Information for having suggested to the Chief to permit the young major to have a videographed interview with the media.
I just do not see the logic of such a discourse as it actually makes the audience feel that such an act is really giving away the bluff in a negative way, bringing a slur on Army operations at large. With such an open disagreement on the method adopted to evacuate the trapped men on election duty, I feel that the Army needs to introspect and renew the hard laboured initiatives of many who served in those areas.
I am sure their ‘Art and Craft’ were also good and did bring positive results with a firm commitment of bringing the civilians and the military closer at the grass roots level. If the chasm widens then no amount of cursory dialogues at the top will bring about a change by infusing the doctrine of ‘Winning Hearts and Minds’.
The writer is a retired Brigadier of the Indian Army.