JOIN USA week after the Army told field commanders not to pay attention to adverse social media campaigns, a spurious WhatsApp message has insinuated that Armymen’s hesitancy led to Friday’s militant attacks in Kashmir.
Lt Gen D S Hooda, Northern Army Commander, had about a week ago sent instructions for soldiers in conflict zones not to “fall prey” to hurtful reports amid an uproar over last month’s incident, where Armymen killed two youths in Budgam after purportedly mistaking them for terrorists.
The WhatsApp message, circulating for the last few days, claims that Pakistan-backed militants entered the Army camp in Uri with relative ease as the sentry did not open fire on remembering the Budgam incident.
It also said terrorists entered the Army camp in a vehicle; they actually cut wires of the fence from the direction of the Jhelum river to gain entry.
“The WhatsApp message is wrong. It appears disgruntled elements are putting out canards in social media. The inputs about soldiers being hesitant or under orders to be defensive are incorrect and have no merit,” an Army officer said.
The recent killing of the two youths, who did not stop at two check posts and were fired upon at the third, drew strong reactions in the public and media, compelling Lt Gen Hooda to publicly apologise in order to bring down the people’s anger in the valley.
“Mistakes will happen. Let me assure you that I have a clear understanding of the difficulties under which we operate and that nobody will be unfairly harmed. This clear message must go out to all units,” he said in a letter to the officers under the northern command.