To restore normality, government to get tough with separatists

It is planning to "curtail the facilities" given to them, say sources.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ground situation in the Kashmir Valley.

The Centre may toughen its stand against separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, and security forces are expected to be given a larger role in the Valley, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

The government has decided to step up crackdowns against elements stonewalling the return of normalcy in the Valley, which has been under curfew almost continuously for the past 60 days.

An all-party delegation led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh returned to Delhi from J&K on Monday.

On Tuesday morning, Mr. Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and informed him of the situation. “Briefed the Prime Minister on all-party delegation’s visit to J&K and also apprised him of the situation in the State,” he said in a tweet. In the evening, he met senior Ministers to discuss the future course of action. He is set to address the all-party delegation again on Wednesday.

“One thing is clear, we have engaged with the people there and it might have a long-term impact. Now, the short-term goal is to reopen markets and schools and bring normalcy to the State. For this, security measures will be heightened and the government will use its instruments to deal with rabble rousers in a stern manner,” the official told The Hindu.

Govt. plans to curb separatists’ foreign travel

The government is considering plans to curb foreign travel by separatists facilitated by the state machinery, an official said.

Separatist leaders like S.A.S. Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq are under house arrest in the Kashmir Valley but they are given temporary documents whenever they travel abroad. The government also plans to scrutinise their bank accounts and complete the investigation in the cases pending against them.

The government is upset at the separatist leaders having refused to meet some members of the all-party delegation. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said such behaviour was neither Kashmiriyat nor insaniyat.

Rajnath briefs Modi

Earlier, Mr. Singh >briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ground situation in the State.

The Minister, in an hour-long meeting, apprised Mr. Modi of the ground situation that was assessed by an all-party delegation, which visited Srinagar and Jammu on September 4 and 5.

Sources said the members of the all-party delegation are likely to meet in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss their findings and chalk out future plans for the State.