"Soon after the tragic massacre of 23 Kashmiri Pundits by militants at Wandhama Viilage in the Kashmir Valley has come the report this morning, no less shocking and tragic of the killing by the Army of seven or more Muslims coming out of a mosque after offering Eid Prayers in Malang Village in Doda District.

Frankly, I fail to see any reason why the cordon and search operation must continue even on the Eid day! I recall one such cordon and search operation in Srinagar in 1990 on the Eid day in down-town Srinagar which had contributed in a large measure to the aggravation of alienation among the Kashmiris.

The surprising thing was that though the net was cast wide, not a single militant was identified or captured, although hundreds of thousands of people had to suffer indignity and many of them were even detained for interrogation.

We have to continue with the anti-insurgency operation, but not in a manner that it becomes counter- productive. Also, our Security Forces could do with a little more common sense.

I presume that the Ministry of Defence will immediately conduct a high level inquiry in this tragic incident, in consultation with the State Government. I also hope that both the Central and the State Governments would apply a healing touch".