Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Gruesome killing

Two reports on The Hindu 's front-page (April 30) made disturbing reading. One report was about 13 abducted villagers getting killed by naxals in Chhattisgarh and the other about telecom engineer K. Suryanarayana, held hostage by the Taliban, who was subsequently killed. They also highlight the deep divide in society, polity, and the media. While the Government's efforts to get the engineer released, though unsuccessful, are laudable, the carelessness and callousness with which the governments of the day treat naxal threats are condemnable. Leaders who wax eloquent on the sufferings of the poor have no time or sympathy to offer even a message of condolence to the near and dear of the Raipur victims. Nor is there any announcement of relief to their family.

H. Ramamoorthy,
Chennai

The Taliban's claim that Suryanarayana was shot dead while trying to escape is as sinister as the outfit itself. It is apparent that Hamid Karzai's writ does not extend beyond Kabul. The Taliban seems to be selectively targeting Indians. It killed driver Maniappan Kutty last November in a similar, barbaric manner. It would be prudent to withdraw all Indian personnel from Afghanistan, at least from the Kabul-Kandahar artery.

Col (retd.) C.V. Venugopalan,
Palakkad, Kerala

As the Afghan President has no control over the Taliban, appeals to him and his Government to nab the culprits will serve no purpose. In fact, Mr. Karzai himself is not safe. Suryanarayana's case therefore should be treated as closed, while the Taliban prepares for its next kill.

M. Parvateesam,
Hyderabad

The Taliban, like everyone else in the developed and developing nations, knows that India is a soft target and that it will do precious little to save the lives of Indian nationals living abroad. The most we can expect our leaders to do is to mouth platitudes. And utter hollow words like "we will never surrender to the abductors." What is left unsaid is "we will continue to receive the bodies of Indian nationals one after the other, decimated in Afghanistan."

P.C. Vaidyanathan,
Chennai

The life of a young, budding engineer has been cruelly stifled by the Taliban, which is regressing to the Stone Age even as the rest of the world marches forward.

Pervin Rohinton Kavarana,
Mumbai

Suryanarayana's killing is a desperate act by the Taliban to show the world that it is not yet a spent force. Thanks to its backers in Islamabad, the militant organisation is targeting India. The Taliban's message is loud and clear — it does not want Indians to get involved in rebuilding Afghanistan as it is not acceptable to the outfit's mentors in Pakistan.

Bijan Kumar Mahapatra,
Hyderabad

That Suryanarayana was shot dead even before an External Affairs Ministry team landed in Kabul shows that the killing was premeditated. What is urgently needed is to make all possible efforts to render effective assistance to Afghanistan to crack down on terrorism and ensure that all Indian nationals working in government-aided projects are protected.

V. K. Sathyavan Nair,
Kottayam, Kerala

The people of India stand firmly behind Suryanarayana's grieving family. The Taliban represents intolerance and religious fundamentalism and the world should not bow to its terror tactics. The incident highlights our failure as a society to provide our citizens meaningful employment.

Sami Ahmad Khan,
New Delhi

No nation can claim to remain aloof from the effects of such acts. It is therefore the collective responsibility of everyone to root out terrorism. Though it is easier said than done, mankind has always found appropriate answers to such developments. The Government could have acted with more urgency and alacrity. Only when someone from the political spectrum is kidnapped does the ruling machinery start functioning.

Pradhyumna Rajanikant Kansara,
Anand, Gujarat

There is no gainsaying that things would have been different had the son or daughter of a politician been kidnapped. The Government has failed to provide a secure atmosphere both within and outside the country. In any terror attack, it is the innocent who become victims.

P. Bhuvanachandran,
Aluva, Kerala

Though the Government cannot be cowed down by such acts, it is important to ensure the safety of Indian nationals deployed for reconstructing Afghanistan. Let us hope and pray that such incidents do not recur.

G. Gulam Tariq,
Kurnool, A.P.

The speed with which monetary compensations for loss of lives are announced after a tragedy betrays lack of culture and respect for the feelings of the bereaved. Money can never substitute the loss of human life. Consolations are due and in place but the announcement of monetary compensation can wait for a few days. Let not the solemnity of the occasion be spoilt by competing announcements accompanying condolence messages.

K. Vedamurthy,
Chennai

One cannot deal with the Taliban. No rationale or useful discussion is possible with such fanatics. India should therefore let the Afghans develop Afghanistan. It can extend financial help, if need be. After the Kandahar hijack and the killing of Maniappan, the Government should have pulled out all Indians from Afghanistan. At least now it should recall them and issue a statement saying it will not be responsible for the security of those who go to that country.

H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bangalore

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