More thrust being laid on checks and balances for fruitful results
Likely to be notified in consultation with MHA shortly
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 7: In order to bring misguided youth of Jammu and Kashmir back to the mainstream, the Governor’s Administration has set into motion a process for framing new ‘rehabilitation policy for the militants’ in consultation with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the entire exercise will be completed in a time bound manner.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that after detailed discussion with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on providing a fresh opportunity to the misguided youth, who have strayed into the fold of militancy, to join mainstream, the State Home Department on the instructions of Governor Satya Pal Malik recently prepared a draft ‘rehabilitation policy for the militants’ and circulated the same among all the security and intelligence agencies for their comments and suggestions.
“Presently, the draft is being minutely examined at all the relevant quarters and shortly the comments and suggestions will be submitted to the Home Department to pave the way for finalization of policy in consultation with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs”, sources said.
“During the exercise more thrust is being laid on checks and balances so as to ensure that the new policy yields the desirable results and is not put to misuse at any level”, they further informed, adding “more humane touch will be given to the policy so as to ensure that as many as misguided youth avail its benefit to join mainstream and lead a life of normal citizen of the State”.
They disclosed that efforts are being made to ensure that new policy is notified in shortest possible time-frame most probably before the announcement of schedule for Lok Sabha elections when it would be difficult for State as well as Union Governments to take any major step keeping in view Model Code of Conduct.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to State in the month of May this year had made an appeal to the misguided youth to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream to contribute in the development of the State. Since then discussion was going on between the State and Union Governments for framing of new ‘rehabilitation policy for the militants’.
It is pertinent to mention here that National Conference-Congress Coaliti-on Government in November 2010 had introduced a policy to facilitate the return of ex-militants who belong to J&K and had crossed over to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Pakistan for training in insurgency but have given up insurgent activities due to change of heart.
Routes like Joint Check Post Wagah, Attari, Salamabad or Chakan-Da-Bagh crossings on the Line of Control and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi were identified for return of the former militants but the policy failed to yield the desirable results as ex-militants started returning through Nepal along with their wives and children instead of identified routes.
As per the experts, this policy was the comprehensive one but it failed to yield the results mainly because of adopting of different route by the ex-militants to come back. There were sufficient provisions under this policy to keep the returnees under close monitoring for a period of two years from the completion of the counselling process so that they completely become part of the mainstream.
Subsequently, the previous PDP-BJP Coalition Government had also made an attempt to put in place new ‘rehabilitation policy for the militants’ in the month of March this year but no progress could be made because of differences between the coalition partners over certain provisions of the policy.
The main bone of contention between the coalition partners was that the amount for surrender was more than what the Government gives to a civilian killed by the terrorists or Pakistani firing in the State at that time.
Under the then rehabilitation policy the Coalition Government had proposed that Rs 6 lakh to be given to the surrendered militant would be deposited in his bank account for a period of 10 years. During the deposit period, the militant would continue to get Rs 4000 monthly interest from the bank. After 10 years, the militant can get the FDR cashed if CID and other security agencies give the certificate of good conduct to him during the period.
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