Clearing the air
WHILE the government's handling of the Pilkhana incident has been well appreciated, the questions that continue to surface are not only perplexing but have also turned out to be extremely disturbing for the democracy-loving people of the country. Why should there be questions about the government, and why should there be fingers pointed at the people in the government?
There are reports that the Pilkhana carnage was planned some two months back and that the murderers took control of the arsenal hours before the gruesome killings. Where were the members of our intelligence agencies? Following the Pilkhana incident, however, we have not yet heard of any intelligence man being questioned.
How can one forget the Pilkhana tragedy? The whole nation is united in sorrow and deep respect for the heroes of the land, all agree that the scar that February 25-26 has left will not heal unless the plotters and perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice.
It is true that every member of our armed forces suffered immense grief at this barbaric incident, and so did every sane human of the land. The nation, however, salutes the army for the self-possession they have shown at such provocation. Some political parties are now blaming the government for not going for rapid military action.
Can one, however, imagine what the scale of massacre in and around the Pilkhana BDR headquarters could have been had there been a combat between two armed wings of the country, along with the chain reaction throughout the country?
Moreover, our beloved army might have been depicted as a marauding force despite being attacked by a gang of well-trained criminals masquerading as BDR jawans.
There was also the possibility of all the traces of the crime and conspiracy being wiped out. It is also difficult to say whether the 40 odd army officers and their families could have come out alive had there been a confrontation between the two groups of heavily armed soldiers.
Many such previous experiences of "storming" also more than justified the government's negotiating approach.
Though only objective and thorough investigation can pin down the real culprits behind the mutiny, there are similarities to previous acts of barbarity. Many have compared the mayhem of February 25-26 to March 25, 1971 and December 14, 1971.
However, such barbarity in an independent country, and that too against the armed forces, boggles one's imagination.
Many have suggested that a well-orchestrated conspiracy is in operation against the very existence of the nation. The government has, thus, one way to salvage and reassure the nation, and that is to unearth and crush the real culprits within the shortest possible time.
In the past, there were rumours and reports of people inside the government having an unholy nexus with terrorists and criminals engaged in heinous activities.
Even in the previous 4-party government's rule, there were such incriminations against many. Actually, criminals do not belong to any particularly party; rather they use the cover of political parties to indulge in their acts against humanity.
Unfortunately for the nation, this country has no dearth of such people. For the very existence of democracy, such people should be rounded up irrespective of party affiliation.
Anyway, it is the government that will have to come out loud and clear about the present position, and the sooner does it do so the better will it serve the government's credibility. One cannot afford to forget that mistrust should not be allowed to take root.
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