The shocking death of the Zadoo cousins under suspicious circumstances is otherwise a reflection of administrative shortcomings in J&K. Resumption of political process the only solution.

The recent tragic death of the two Kashmiri Pandit adults Vimal Zadoo (42) and Vipin Zadoo (35) in Jammu earlier sent shockwaves through the Pandit community. 

While the killing of Sarpanch Ajay Pandita in Kashmir by Islamic terrorists is still fresh in public memory, the appalling demise of the Zadoo cousins, albeit under entirely different yet horrific circumstances, has added to the grief and agony of a community that carries a history-laden with religious persecution and governmental apathy. 

Goes beyond the wildest of imaginations that two men, out to help their cousin perform the last rites of his elderly father who had passed away due to COVID-19, would never come back home alive. This is a tragedy of the highest degree. But is it tragedy alone?… Not quite!

As per media reports, the Zadoo cousins allegedly died due to heatstroke and dehydration after the authorities that had organised the cremation under special circumstances failed to show any humanitarian or duty-bound concern to save them. Even the SOPs were blatantly disregarded. It was alleged that two men were left unattended as they gasped for breath wearing the energy-sapping PPE suits in the exorbitant summer heat and were not even offered water by the police and other officials. Ultimately, they collapsed and later died. 

In what seems prima facie to be a case of official negligence, although a magisterial probe has been ordered, would it otherwise be ideal to say that the deaths happened only because a group of officials appointed by the administration for the cremation of a COVID victim was indisciplined, insensitive and apathetic? Or is there more to it than meets the eye. Of course, the bereaved families have cried foul and accused the concerned officials of consciously choosing to let the two men die. However, that part will only come to light after a proper and impartial investigation is conducted. 

But the other major worry that surfaces from this outrageous incident is the efficacy, or the lack of it, of the administration in the newly born UT to handle matters of public concern not just from the standpoint of the crisis that has erupted from the coronavirus pandemic but more so generally. 

Specifically in this particular case, it was alleged that the Zadoo cousins and their other cousin- the son of the deceased COVID victim - were made to run helter-skelter with the dead body with the unforgiving PPE kits on in peak hot conditions. After traversing several cremation grounds, the ambulance finally took them to Sidhra along the embankment of the Tawi river. While on its way through the stony terrain, one of the ambulance tyres got stuck and the three men were asked to get off the vehicle and lend a hand. The scorching heat got the better of the three men and two of them lost their lives as they kept pleading for water whereas the deceased’s son was lucky to survive. 

Firstly, it begs the question that why was the dead body taken for cremation to Sidhra which is on the outskirts of the Jammu city? And why were the SOPs so blatantly violated? 

Secondly, above and beyond the allegation of deliberate negligence and foul play, if any, which will become clear once the result of the investigation comes into the public domain - does the mysterious death of the two Kashmiri Pandits reflect the administrative crisis that the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is gradually sliding into?

It is baffling that at a juncture when the entire country is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, the J&K administration has not set up dedicated crematoriums for COVID-19 deaths. Had that been the case, the Zadoo family perhaps would not have had to go through the ordeal that ended up claiming two innocent lives. Moreover, the deaths took place in the presence of an ADC, a high ranking official, who had been deputed by the authorities for the cremation of the COVID-19 victim. 

Astonishingly, much like appointing a jury to pass judgement when they are the accused themselves, the same ADC was designated by the Jammu District Commissioner to conduct a magisterial inquiry into the deaths. However, due to public pressure, he was later replaced by another ADC. 

The Broader Picture 

Even outside of the debate of whether or not the J&K administration, with the Lieutenant Governor at the helm of affairs, has been able to put its best foot forward in terms of handling of the coronavirus pandemic - there is growing disenchantment within the local population with the way the current administration has addressed some concerns, especially in the Jammu region. 

The historic abrogation of the draconian Article 370 on August 5, 2019, was done to integrate J&K into India beyond a scope of doubt and unwarranted interference. And the move has worked immensely in putting the terrorist state of Pakistan in its place and suppressing the criminal separatist voices in the valley, thereby ensuring the safeguarding of India’s sovereignty and national interest. 

But unfortunately, at the same time, the UT appears to have slowly walked into a state of administrative stagnation. At the moment the show is being run by the bureaucrats and, to put it bluntly, they leave enough to be desired. The lack of a politically elected government representing the best interests of the people, particularly in the Jammu division, has now set the alarm bells ringing. The death of the Zadoo cousins (in otherwise suspect circumstances) is a flashpoint in this regard that reveals the lacklustre and insensitive approach of the J&K bureaucratic machinery. 

The writing on the wall is clear. To have a territory, especially a particular one like Jammu and Kashmir, governed by a bureaucracy-heavy administration for a prolonged period in the absence of a politically elected government will invariably have shortcomings. Even from a purely psychological perspective, the efficacy with which a regional politician or an elected MLA can approach and understand local issues or handle a public crisis is generally greater than how a bureaucrat would. It may not always be true but then the fear of hurting the vote bank sometimes pushes politicians just that little bit more to deal with emergencies with a stronger touch of seriousness and sensitivity.  

But having mentioned all that, the need for the restoration of the political process in J&K is not lost on the central government. The BJP National General Secretary, Ram Madhav, recently stated in no uncertain terms that the time had come for elected representatives to take over the reigns of the new UT as the region is going through a significant phase wherein people are waiting optimistically for the dawn of a new era of development and good governance without the baggage of Article 370. 

Therefore, the need for the Election Commission to fast track the delimitation process has become more imperative than ever to prepare the UT for Assembly elections as soon as possible. 

As a matter of fact, it is the only way to ensure that atrocious incidents like the one involving the Zadoo cousins are avoided and the greater good of Jammu and Kashmir is achieved.