Key Concepts

• The reaction of the Security Forces against the ‘Stone Pelters’, who are mostly teenagers and youth, is pro-claimed by those fomenting the trouble, to be out of all proportion to such acts.
• How harmful can a mere stone, small enough to throw, be? – They say.
• On TV stone pelting is shown to seem no more harmful than like throwing pebbles at stray dogs to drive them away. But is that really the case? It is for serious consideration whether stone pelting is as innocuous as it is being made out to be. Teenagers and young men pelting Security Force personnel with stones looks a lot less dangerous than it truly is, unless of course you are at the receiving end.
• History tells us that stones were the first weapons used by our Ancestors to kill small birds and animals and drive away the larger ones. As the aim improved with practice, bigger and bigger animals were targeted. Many Adivasi hunters still do so today.
• All this was without a sling, which we learn was used by David to aim a pebble at Goliath and kill him.
• Even today a stone is a dangerous weapon capable of causing grievous injury or even death, more so if cast or thrown by those with some skill and strength.
• Consider that even from over 60 feet distance, a Batsman is so worried about an injury that may be caused by a Cricket ball, even though that is bounced off the ground before it reaches him and is often bowled by only a Teenager, that he deems it essential to wear a helmet and face guard and many body pads as protection against grievous and perhaps even fatal injury in spite of all such protective measures.
• Consider that the punishment for Adultery in many Islamic Countries is to be ‘Stoned’ to death. The Stone Pelters here are advised not use larger stones, though even these would have to be small enough to hold and throw single handed, but to select even smaller stones so that the person being stoned does not die too quickly. Clearly this is recognition that even the smaller stones are lethal weapons. The recent Internet video from Pakistan, of a woman being so stoned to death there for such ‘alleged misconduct’, is a clear demonstration of the lethality of such stones.

Also, are such incidents of stone pelting only a spontaneous expression of outrage against the presence of Security Forces, or are they well planned in advance to create situations which can then be taken advantage of by others?

This raises the question about intent and premeditation. It is evident that the intent to cause harm is there and the ‘Stone Pelters’ are strong enough and skilled enough to do grievous injury to their targets.

It is also, obvious that such quantities of stones, suddenly available in locations where they are otherwise not easily found, is proof enough of pre-meditation and planning by some parties interested in creating disturbances where the reaction can be made to look disproportionate. After all they claim, “it is only ‘Kids’ throwing a few stones at armed and protected Forces. Hence, it would be a disproportionate response for such Forces to even try to defend themselves, as such defensive steps may cause grievous or even fatal injury to the ‘Kids’”.

Can we really ask the Security Forces personnel to just stand there and be stoned and not take any steps for self defense or even act to disperse what is really a violent mob? Would they be doing their duty if they just stood there?

The statement that such Stone Pelting was only a gesture of outrage is contrary to the reality. There are enough other peaceful ways of demonstration and even if things were to be thrown to show greater outrage, ‘rotten eggs and tomatoes’ would be the more easily available and commonly resorted to objects to be flung at the Security Forces and not potentially deadly stones. But even in such cases, one cannot expect the Security Forces to just stand and take it (See – ‘Law & Order’). Provocation beyond a certain level will result in a response however, graded it may be.

Also, if it was only a peaceful protest which turned spontaneously into stone pelting, there would then be no need to overturn or set on fire the vehicles of the Security Forces. Obviously this is being done to further escalate the response till instances of grievous or fatal injury occur and claims can then be made by the Organizers, of the cruel and oppressive Security Personnel, targeting ‘Kids’ who are only protesting ‘peacefully’.

This begs the question ‘who gains’ from such entire episodes and what are their real motives? Could there be truth in the allegations that the youth are enticed into such staged ’spontaneous’ protests by financial rewards (per stone thrown?) and threatened with dire consequences if they do not participate?

Doesn’t the extensive Media coverage of a very vocal and demonstrative minority show a very distorted view of the issues concerned, because the majority is threatened into silence and even coerced into co-operation?

Such questions can only be resolved by seeking the answer to our own question – ‘who gains from such episodes?’ It definitely is not the Security Forces or the Government! Then Who? – The Separatists? – The Terrorists? -THINK and DECIDE for Yourself!

Conclusion

Stone pelting is an offensive and dangerous activity that often results in grievous injuries and even fatalities to the security forces that are the target and can in no way be considered a peaceful protest

The fact most stone pelters are youngsters, even juvenile, doesn’t excuse them from retaliatory and appropriate action.

The aspect of payments being made for such stone pelting and the question- who is paying and who gains?- needs to be investigated.

We should recognise stone pelting as a dangerous activity instigated by anti-India groups and, the security forces should be allowed to respond as deemed appropriate by them.

The media should not be allowed to be used by those whose interests are anti-India to report so misleadingly, and even by Courts to protect such wrong doers.

JAI BHARAT!– JAI HIND!

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