From: vivek@ecst.csuchico.edu (Vivek R. Prabhu)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Kashmir massacre (?)
Date: 8 Jan 93 06:38:55 GMT
Organization: California State University, Chico
NNTP-Posting-Host: cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu

In article <1iil9oINN3v1@roundup.crhc.uiuc.edu> sunder@grusin.crhc.uiuc.edu (Srinivas Sunder) writes:
>In article <Hqd=Rp-@engin.umich.edu>, sudhama@engin.umich.edu (Sudhama Gopalan) writes:
>|> For two days now, AP and UPI have been carrying conflicting versions of the 
>|> killings in Kashmir. This shows exactly how biased some news agencies are today.
>|> It would seem likely that only one of the two versions is true - either there
>|> was a massacre or there was an explosives dump fire. But then notice the slant
>|> the two news agencies have. Obviously, they toe the line of their owners -
>|> whoever they may be. One has implicit faith in Indian Govt press releases; the
>|> other does'nt. Who is right? Who knows?
>
>I don't think that there was any obvious bias. The report that was posted on the net
>by Bala (the AP version) had all the hallmarks of an on-the-spot report, and
>hence gave a version that we later knew turned out to be closer to the truth
>(i.e. that there was a massacre or at least that the security forces had run 
>amuck). The later version making it out to be a fire was from New Delhi and
>quoted from Govt. reports, with stuff like "...authorities said," and "...
>according to a statement released in New Delhi."


The truth is somewhere in the middle. It is indeed hard to believe the 
fact that the Security forces, would have indulged in such a massacre,
since there has been plenty of annoyance,  and resentment against such
actions by them in the past, particularly w.r.t. Punjab. 

In fact, in Kashmir, the security forces, have been specially directed
to be humane in their approach, since Girish Saxena, is a man who does
not tolerate any excesses by the troops there.  He has been consistent
in taking action against any erring security personnel,  no matter how
mild a charge has been against them. 

From the reports, it is therefore, quite evident, that it was a battle
between the terrorists, and the security forces, which resulted in the
blaze in the explosive dump. 

You have to remember one thing, if the security forces would have been
involved in the massacres which have been alleged to have been done by
them, then they would have constantly alienated the entire populace by 
now, and would have been totally unable, to gain the kind of successes 
gained by them so far. Notable among which have been,  the destruction 
of the Ikwan-El-Muslimeen, led by the dreaded Yasin Bhat,  who himself
has been liquidated. Also notable has been the fact that in the valley
of Srinagar, people are still able to get most of their work done, and
the security forces have indeed, been successful in instilling a sense 
of safety in the residents there. The success of the security forces's
manifested in the great deal of desperation,  that the Pakistanis have 
had to muster to try and scout for more recruits to fuel the terrorist
movement, which is definitely losing its cutting edge. Actually it had
lost its cutting edge by last July itself, when the total and complete
criminalization of the terrorist movement, in place of its ideological
guide had taken place.

Regards,
Vivek.




-- 
vivek@cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu (Vivek R. Prabhu),
Research Assistant, Systems Engineering Lab., Dept. Of Computer Science, 
School Of Engineering, Computer Science And Technology,
California State University, Chico, California.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian