Rahul’s book fails to answer questions, but details are revealing

Book: The lover boy of Bahawalpur: How the Pulwama case was cracked 

Author: Rahul Pandita 

Publisher: Juggernaut. 

inam ul rehman

 

As the car laden with many hundred kilograms of explosives rammed into a paramilitary convoy on February 14, Kashmiris watched in disbelief that killing of such magnitude took place in “world’s most militarised area” where surveillance of every human is unparallel. After the initial disbelief murmurs of this blast being inside job started to do rounds. It picked up, and even photos were circulated to prove that the suicide bomber Aadil Dar was paraded before a press conference by police. Do these rumours have any source? Of course, Aadil Dar the suicide bomber, and Aadil Dar the arrested one were different entities.

 

You know what is common between Noor Muhammad Tantary, Ashiq Nengroo, and Abbas Rather. Noor is considered revivalist of the Jaish-i-Mohammad, and one who put “many boys on a suicide mission”. Ashiq, and Abbas were overground workers and also provided information to the police. Noor was termed as the “merchant of death” by Delhi high court and sentenced for life. Then how was Noor released? According to the author in jail, some persons met him who convinced him to work for them. In order to facilitate his release and make it look ordinary, he was first transferred to Kashmir and later released on parole.    

 

Before being released Noor beseeched “a central investigation agency to use his services to counter-terrorism in Kashmir”. To prove his words, he provided information to the intelligence agency, but only of those men whom “the Jaish wanted to bump off,” according to the author. Noor was finally killed but not before he had set up an elaborate network for the Jaish militants. His militant organisation had so much trust in him that it would say even if it sees Noor in an army chopper it won’t suspect him of betrayal. 

 

Now let us assume what Rahul has written is true and fact, but how does it stop one not to think that maybe Noor was working for the agencies, or Ashiq was also involved in the suicide bombing? Maybe the agency or agencies responsible for handling these people were tasked to go for a low-level suicide bombing to favour certain individuals or political party? Maybe the handlers involved in it were not expecting that they would be tricked again, and the bang would be a colossal one bringing India Pakistan nearly to a nuclear war? Although the author does pick up a line that the people said it was done to boost Narendra Modi’s victory in the 2019 election, but he brazenly dismisses it without answering why not to take these rumours seriously.  

 

Similarly, Rahul is unable to put it on the record how Waiz-ul-Islam, a teenager, came into the militancy network. His case is narrated in one line without informing how militants were able to make such an elaborate network. We know in the Valley once an overground worker is identified, or someone becomes a militant the police use universal forensic extraction device (UFED) that bypasses every password to monitor the activity of his relatives and friends. Didn’t the police use UFED to spy on OGWs? 

 

It does not mean that it was done at the behest of the Indian prime minister. Since the Jaish came into contact with worldwide proscribed al Qaeda outfit it learned stealth, and here Rahul tells readers that it used this stealth to confuse intelligence agencies.

  

The use of human resources depends on who uses their energy effectively for efficacy. And here the author says that militants were ahead of intelligence agencies to use their sources which they had meticulous cultivated. 

 

The mastermind of the Pulwama attack were Pakistani nationals belonging to the Jaish militant organisation. They were led by Umar urf Idrees Bhai, according to the author the latter made a small mistake that helped the counter-insurgency grid to eliminate him. But as per Rahul, he cannot reveal the “small mistake” because investigators have barred him. What is the fun of writing the book on the mastermind if you cannot reveal that one “small mistake”?   

 

There are no easy answers to how actionable intelligence was not acted upon, or how militants outsmarted the counter insurgency grid. We would never know many things that took place in Kashmir because the longer the insurgency goes the murkier it becomes.  

If you watch crime patrol stuff on the television you won’t question Rahul Pandita’s book, because it is written in such a pacy manner that the reader will glide through the book without questioning many things. 

 

But you must read it. There are many details including photos which will surprise readers. Lastly, it won’t be a surprise if a movie or web series is made on this book.

Author's image courtesy: twitter