Unplanned yet pleasant rendezvous at RR Camp in South Kashmir

Being from a strife-torn land of Kashmir, I have been a staunch critic of Indian Army and their role in human role in human right violations. The latest shame by them has been the role of the army as an institution in the Machil fake encounter. But, as they say, that there is always a silver lining to everything.

This is a picture of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle called Casspir stationed at the Rashtriya Rifle (RR) Camp on Mughal Road, at an elevation of 11500 ft above the sea level. This was clicked by my dear friend Parshati Dutta while I was inside the camp. This is where an interesting anecdote starts. It was a day after when a bunch of army men had beating local policemen manning traffic of Amarnath Yatra on the Sonamarg route.

It was a Sunday. I was travelling back from Peer ki Gali, on Mughal Road, which is traverses through the near liberated district of Shopian. The place is quite near.

As soon as I started, I felt the urge for nature’s call. Much to the brouhaha surrounding the Swachh Bharat, I could not find a single hygienic toilet till next 10 km. After 10 km I was overjoyed by the sight of a hut, that had RR Camp at the back. I decided to ease out at the hut. But, I was disappointed to see the hut closed as I neared it.

Knowing that I was in a zone, where the armed forces were under constant threat of ambush from militants, I somehow gathered the courage to approach armed camp to use their restroom. Another local friend of mine, Zahoor, was very sceptical of my decision to use the restroom. After initial questions, the jawans at guard allowed me in. I used the restroom at the camp. Being a makeshift restroom, the jawan made a prompt arrangement for my handwash, post easing out. As I about to leave, Major stationed there offered me to smoke. Being relieved, I more than happily accepted the smoke. The Major then called on his senior Commanding Officer (CO), who offered me tea with hot pakoras, which I willingly accepted. And we spoke for next half an hour on various defence issues, while the battalion left in this Casspir for a security operation. Seeing jawans leave for operation and me taking more than required time, had gotten both Parshati and Zahoor worried, who was waiting for me outside in my car. While leaving Major shared his contact with me, knowing that I was going to traverse through a strife torn area and assured me all help if I was faced any difficulty on the way.

This humility by army touched my heart and I left the camp with a huge smile. The sight of me relieved Parshati and Zahoor. As I narrated them the story, Zahoor jokingly quipped, “Abh problem aagehogi, logun ko lagega hum mukbir (army informers) hai.”