Udhampur (JK), Feb. 14 (PTI): A top Army commander today hit back at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s statement that Muslim soldiers were killed in the Sunjuwan attack, saying the Army does not communalise its soldiers.
“We take on the religion of our troops and we do not communalise any of them. There is ‘sarva dharma sthal’ in every formation. Go to Badamibagh (a cantonment in Srinagar) or Udhampur (the Northern Command headquarters) or even my residence,” Northern Command chief Lt Gen D Anbu said.
The comment of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the strategically-important Northern Command came a day after the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief slammed those questioning the patriotism of Muslims and Kashmiri Muslims.
Four Kashmiri soldiers were among the six Army personnel killed in the attack on the 36 Brigade of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry camp in Sunjuwan on Saturday.
“It is only for people who do not know the inside functioning of the armed forces. They are the one who are actually making such statements,” he said, adding “they need to visit us to see themselves how we put everything aside and live together”.
Owaisi, the MP from Hyderabad, had yesterday said the so-called “9 PM” nationalists (those who appear in prime time TV debates) question the nationalism of Muslims and Kashmiri Muslims.
“In this (Sunjuwan attack) incident, the Kashmiri Muslims have laid down their lives. Why aren’t you talking about it? This is a reminder to all those nationalists who question my integrity and the love for this country,” the AIMIM chief had said.
Anbu said, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown (by participating in large numbers in the funeral prayers of the soldiers)... it is a testimony for all those who wanted to communalise it.”
On the impact of an FIR over the killing of three youths in south Kashmir’s Shopian district last month in which Major Aditya Kumar was named, he said, “I am heading the Northern Command and I can say it with confidence that the issue of Major Aditya has not dented the morale of my troops, not even a bit, not even an iota.”
“I can say it with confidence because I meet them, I move around and I speak through my commanders and know the pulse,” he said.
The officer said that there were no human rights (HRs) violation reported against the Army in the last one year.
“In the last one year, you have not seen any human rights violations taking place. That is (because of the) direction from me to the commanders. You will not find any one of them wilfully indulging in it. Our intentions are clear so there is nothing to worry about,” he said.
However, Anbu said that the case was sub-judice and would take its own course.
The police had registered an FIR into the death of three youths and had mentioned that an Army team led by Major Aditya had to open fire on an unruly mob which was indulging in heavy stone pelting on a convoy led by him.
“The Defence minister had made a statement during her visit to Jammu that the government and the ministry of defence are totally behind the soldiers and armed forces,” he said.
