Life`s Tough..

Life`s Tough.

"There has been another surprise outburst of violence here in Darund, some 2 odd kilometers from Srinagar. Only hours ago, the Army raided this small village situated on the northwestern hills around Srinagar; an operation they called - "Operation Flush". The commanding Officer after much persuasion and amidst hectic activity revealed the mission was to arrest 4 militants, of the Lashker-e-Toiba outfit believed to have taken refuge here. And what was supposed to be a very intricately planned operation turned into a snapped power line in heavy rain.

The actual number of the alleged militants is now expected to be around 21. All of them dead along with 33 locals who the Army says sheltered and supported them. The Army has lost 3 jawans and many were seriously injured in the gun battle, which lasted for approx an hour. As you can see in the background..

(Camera moves away from Shreya, right to show jawans loading body bags in a waiting helicopter.)..The Army is still loading dead bodies for post mortem. (Shreya moves back into the frame) The injured jawans have been taken to hospitals in Srinagar by other helicopters. A large amount of ammunition has been recovered and lies in a pile here next to me..(The camera moves again. AK-47 assault rifles, ammo rounds, grenades and something that looks like rockets are haphazardly piled on a plastic sheet).

The hamlet, which was relatively unknown and peaceful, has now been reduced to rubble. This provides the proof of what barrage of fire emanated from the jawans and their adversaries. From the initial tour it seems that more than half of the 345 residents are either dead or injured. The CO was very vocal about the help the locals gave to the militants and the belief shows in their action as only 3 Army doctors are handling the injured and shocked locals. People have turned very quite and cold despite the heat from the flames of the ruins of many villager's homes.

(The camera moves again to show an old man lying on the ground, awaiting his turn with what looks like a bullet wound on his knee and smoking a beedi. A child comes up to the camera and the camera shuffles; Shreya enters..) This is Khaled (pointing to the child). Probably a 12yr old that went to school everyday and played Cricket every evening with his friends and his unemployed father.

He's an orphan now, the sole survivor of his family. It seems he can't grasp what has happened and why. Is this a victory for India? Was what gained more than what was lost? In search of an answer among this maze this is Shreya Goel signing off for Star News."

"In search of an answer...that's original" said Milind." we sure kicked ass!

I asked him if he had a smoke. Mine were wet from the morning's rain.

I lit the cigarette from the remains of a barn. Milind was my cameraman. And best who understood my way of doing things.