Wife of slain soldier wonders if trollers had a kin in armed forces

Bauria (West Bengal): Mita Santra, whose husband Babloo Santra was one of the 40 CRPF jawans killed in the Feb 14 Pulwama terror attack, stands by her view that war cannot solve all issues, despite being subjected to cyberbullying.

Talking to Onmanorama, Mita said her statement was being distorted by the trollers.

“People have their own understanding. By no war, I just meant that no one wants to lose their son and husband, so till the end we should look for peace. But if the situation worsens and war becomes inevitable then we will have no option,” Mita said.

She believes dialogue should be given a chance.

“If there is war-like situation, then the government will not listen to my comments. But from the day when by husband’s body was brought home, I have been saying that both the countries should hold talks,” she said.

She wondered if those criticising her had a family member serving in the armed forces.

“I am not in a mindset right now to react to trolling on social media. After my husband’s death, nothing affects me. Sitting in their homes, some people are saying so many things, but do they have any of their family members in the Army, Air Force, Navy or paramilitary forces? The primary school teacher asked.

On the Pulwama attack, her view was that adequate precautionary measures were not in place. She believes the attack could have been prevented had there been jammers in the convoy.

Urging the central government to tighten the security of the soldiers during the transit, Mita said, “Due to inadequate security at the transit a suicide bomber entered India and killed the soldiers. I request the Central government to raise the security even at the transit areas. Now, the government started airlifting, but why didn’t they do it earlier at all places wherever the soldiers are posted? She said.

“I am just worried about the safety of the people. Now, whether there is a need of war or whether there are ways to tackle the situation, governments are better equipped to decide that,” stated Mita.

A masters in Modern History, Mita, lives with her daughter and her mother-in-law at Bauria in Howrah.

Support has also poured in for Mita from various quarters.

“Mita Santra lost her husband in the Pulwama attack and now she is trolled by @BJP4India when she appeals in antipathy of war. Such double standards,” Neeraj Kundan, the recently appointed president of the NSUI, the Congress's student’s wing, tweeted.

“She's just as courageous as any soldier & it's the armchair warrior trolls who r cowards,” human rights activist Kavita Krishnan tweeted.“It is universal truth that peace is more permanent than war. Let us at least patiently listen to her,” Kabita Banerjee, a housewife, said.

Writers Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay and Buddhadeb Dasgupta also supported Mita stressing that loss and suffering made her realise how futile war is.

“This reminds me of a song in a Satyajit Ray’s film (Tora juddha kore korbi ki ta bol) which means: what will you gain by waging war?. It is futile to fight wars because it does no good to anyone. But sometimes situations go out of control and you are left with no choice,” Buddhadeb Dasgupta said.