Srinagar
MLA Langate and Independent lawmaker Er Rasheed on Thursday expressed the deep concern over committing suicide by two army men in Langate and Lolab areas of Kupwara district on March 7 and 8.
The spokesman said that the unfortunate incidents have unmasked the stress among army while serving in violence-hit Kashmir.
The spokesman quoted the Er Rasheed while addressing a gathering in Handwara saying, “Both the incidents should open the eyes of hate mongers and war propagandists all over India and must understand that those wearing uniform are also human beings and cannot always remain detached and isolated from what is happening around them and how it affects their personal lives. These are not the incidents in isolation but such panic tragedies have happened in the past also when even army officers committed suicide after feeling distressed. Let the ultra nationalists not forget the fate, Major Avtar who killed renowned Human Rights Activist Jaleel Andrabi. The suicide committed by Major Avtar proves that sooner or later one realizes the mistake and finds himself guilty in the court of conscience, even if the AFSPA may give him impunity”.
Rasheed added that army or anyone else in uniform can never speak for themselves for the want of professional constraints. Being alert round the clock, this of miles away from their native places seeing innocents getting killed and other atrocities on Kashmiris very often too melt the hearts of a section of armed forces and they do express it with the locals especially common masses in remote villages while performing their duties. It is time for all those who truly respect human lives and feel the pain of mothers to rise to the occasion and work for a durable settlement to Kashmir dispute”.
Pertinent to mention, the army men fro the 30RR battalion, identified as Birender Sinha committed a suicide on Wednesday by shooting himself with his service rifle in Langate area of Handwara.
In a second, a 31-year-old Sepoy Shankar Singh, from 18RR e coy, a resident of prithvpura Rajasthan, also committed a suicide on Thursday at Warnow area of Kupwara.
