Roots in Kashmir: RIK and civil society hold candle light tribute in memory of martyred soldiers in Kashmir

Friday, October 12, 2007

RIK and civil society hold candle light tribute in memory of martyred soldiers in Kashmir

Roots In Kashmir – a frontline group of Kashmiri Pandit community and an initiative of the youth organized a prayer meeting and a candle light vigil at India Gate in memory of Major K.P. Vinay and Major Dinesh Raghuraman who were recently martyred in an operation of the Indian Army in Tangamarg Sector of Kashmir.

People were holding placards, which read, "We Salute our Soldiers", "End Terrorism" and "Terrorists Can Never be Successful" etc. The family of Major Dinesh Raghuraman as well joined them. Eighty year old grandmother of Major Dinesh could be seen accompanied by Dinesh's parents lighting candle in his memory.

Father of Major Dinesh Raghuraman holding a placard.

Eighty year old Grandmother tearfully lighting candles.

Family members of Major Raman paying tributes.

A huge group of policemen was deployed at India Gate to stop our peaceful prayer meeting. Police tried to scuffle with people present and as well tore posters. Its sad that we as Indian's don't even have a right to remember our soldiers at a memorial specially built for our martyrs.

Police trying to scuffle with common people at the prayer meeting.

As a nation we have so far remained mute in our admiration of these brave soldiers. Barring one TV Channel who paid tributes to these martyrs the rest have stood their ground of "Unbiased Reportage". It is thus up to us the Citizens of India that we stand by the families in their grief and Pride. It is up to us to show that we care for those who guard our frontiers said one of the protestors.

This as well is a befitting reply to Tangmarg MLA and ex-Housing minister Ghulam Hassan Mir a founder-member of ruling coalition partner PDP who offered fateh, special prayers, to grant heaven for the killed 9 millitants on last Thursday at the militants' graves two days after the three-day gun battle said another.

It is time nation and the media wakes up to this menance which doesnt have any qualms about attacking any religion,creed or caste.IOnly yesterady have we seen how these barbaric forces have attacked Ajmer Sharif with a view to create communal tensions.The fidayeen Attack on CRPF camp in Srinagar should silence all those who are for troop reduction and thus giving a free passage to terrorists.Unless the government comes down with a strong hand on the terrorists we may have to do these tributes time and again,which we are sure makes all of us sad and worried about the state of our nation.