The implementation of the new rehabilitation and surrender policy designed for Jammu and Kashmir has been put on hold indefinitely in wake of suspension of operations announced by the Centre a day ago.
The policy proposed ₹6 lakh to militants who surrendered and an extra amount for those with weapons. It also proposed arranging loans for surrendered militants for “self employment.” The J&K government had finalised the package on Home Ministry’s advice.
A senior government official said the suspension of operations in the month of Ramzan was necessary as the Kashmir Valley needed a “phase of peace.” “Since 2016, the Valley has witnessed continued violence. This is a risk we have taken but the Valley needs reprieve and let’s see how the month goes. The killings are not helping the cause,” said the official.
The official explained there will be “no cordon and search operations” by the Army and the call for an operation will be taken by the Army and the State police.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Home said on Wednesday that Centre had asked the “security forces not to launch operations” in J&K during the month of Ramzan. “Security forces reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people,” Mr. Singh said.
The decision followed successive reports given by special representative Dineshwar Sharma that killings and encounters were not yielding the desired results and the emotional upsurge at funerals of militants killed in encounters was aiding recruitment by terror outfits. Security forces have been asked to encourage surrenders and arrests in the Valley and only go for “specific intelligence-based operations.”
It was on Mr. Sharma’s advice that J&K government was asked to withdraw cases against first-time offenders involved in stone-throwing incidents during the 2016 unrest in Kashmir Valley. An official said that 3,685 students and young men got relief under the scheme and other 9,000 people would be covered under the amnesty scheme.
As many as 147 young Kashmiri men joined various militant outfits in 2017 which saw a spike after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, 2016. As many as 64 terrorists were killed till May 6 this year in various operations in South Kashmir — the highest in a decade for the period. More than 40 men had joined terrorist ranks during this period.
