[Reader-list] Don’t Doubt The Army - LT COL (RETD) RSN SINGH

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

*Don't Doubt The Army*

*It is a travesty to paint Purohit as the Indian Osama Bin Laden*

*LT COL (RETD) **RSN SINGH*
  [image: procons]

*Illustration: *ANAND NAOREM

GOING BY the selective and flip-flop leaks by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS)
of Maharashtra, and the manner in which the media is lapping it up, it
appears that there is a concerted bid to make an 'Osama bin Laden' out of Lt
Col Purohit, and prove that Sadhvi Pragya and her accomplices are the new
'Hindu Jehadis'. The credulity of the general public is being stretched on
various scores. Firstly, the speed at which fresh revelations are being
disseminated by the ATS, is in complete disregard to professional propriety.
Secondly, the unprecedented number of narco tests the accused are being
subjected to. Thirdly, there is a total blankout with regard to the version
of the accused. Fourthly, with every passing day, the network is being
enlarged; as if to suggest that the entire country is being consumed by
'Hindu terrorism', and has pan-Indian dimension. Fifthly, if intercepts of
some of the accused were available prior to the blasts, why were no
pre-emptive measures taken? Sixthly, no army representative has been
included in the interrogation team. Seventhly, the most intriguing aspect is
the timing of the investigations — on the eve of elections.

No two security problems, especially with religious and social overtones,
have the same character, motivation and orientation. Any attempt to draw
parallels between terrorism of all kinds, though politically beneficial, can
be counter-productive. Each form of terrorism has to be dealt with on
different planes. This is not to say that the entire investigation is a
miscarriage of justice. It was only expected that the chain of terrorist
strikes across the nation would provoke retaliatory measures. It is an
exercise of responsible and perspicuous governance to ensure that
retaliatory susceptibilities are contained. The approach of 'two wrongs make
a right' or 'one wrong is equal to another wrong' does not address the root
cause of the problem. It only contributes to the creation of new undesirable
elements and organisations, and further polarises society.

The ATS revelations are extremely complex in nature due to the alleged
involvement of an army officer belonging to military intelligence. The
media, therefore, needs to be cautious about the manner in which it reports
the briefs by the ATS. The Colonel is a legitimate intelligence operative.
Interaction with the police authorities, other intelligence agencies,
desirable and undesirable elements, was very much a part of his duty. No
intelligence agency issues written orders in pursuance of intelligence
operations. The entire system is based on trust and faith. It is yet to be
established how much disconnect there is between the legitimate and
illegitimate activities of the officer during the course of his duty. The
level and extent of intelligence interaction and cooperation with other
agencies that this officer had is also not known. There can be no greater
travesty than the suggestion by certain quarters that the involvement of Lt
Col Purohit is symptomatic of a deeper malaise in the Indian army.

An officer of military intelligence is not in direct command of troops. He
has only a small complement of personnel working under him. A military
intelligence officer is hardly competent in providing training on Improvised
Explosive Devices. Importantly, the nation must trust in the legal
procedures of the army, which is far more stringent. The army will brook no
ideology which impacts on its established secular character and credentials.
As and when Lt Col Purohit is handed back to army custody, it is inevitable
that he will be meted out the appropriate punishment, if found guilty. The
media must be patient, and, spare the army.

*(Lt Col Singh served in military intelligence and RAW)***

  *From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 46, Dated Nov 22, 2008*

   Link -
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne221108proscons.asp