Rajan Gandhi
Two latest news headlines that rocked the nation on same day are in quite contrast. On one hand there is confirmation news regarding the death of 39 Indian citizens in Mosul by ISIS and on the other hand local headline of increase in remuneration of so called surrendered militants leaves one aghast with the unique policies of both Central and State Governments. As per media reports 40 Indians were taken hostage way back in 2014 in Mosul and one of them , Harjit Masih , returned back to India and claimed that all remaining 39 had been killed by ISIS. Irony is that all these 39 killed paid 1.5 lakhs to 2.5 lakhs to emigration agents for visa and jobs in Iraq and belonged to poorer section of society who took extreme decision of moving to blood torn Iraq for better future of their near and dear ones. Most tragic part is that since Mosul was inaccessible as it was under the seizure of ISIS , GOI had no proof of their genocide so nobody including relatives of the dead believed the lone survivor Harjit Masih. Though poor still for last four years these families were running pillar to post for any latest news without any financial assistance from state or Central Government. Even after confirmation of their death no immediate compensation has been announced for the aggrieved families who have lost their near and dear ones.
On the contrary incentive for militants is our state’s Return and Rehabilitation Policy authored by the coalition Government in J&K headed by Jenab Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2004 under the much hyped healing touch policy. As per policy any willing youth who went across border for arms training but want to return and join the mainstream and against whom there are no heinous offences in consultation with MHA were to be considered for rehabilitation. This policy was further modified by the cabinet order dated 22.11.2010 by Omar Abdullah government and according to modification the application for surrender could be filed before the Indian High Commission in Pakistan so that an appropriate entry permit could be issued to the person who desired to surrender in J&K. The Government selected four entry points namely; Poonch-Rawalakote (Poonch), Uri-Muzaffrabad (Uri), Wagah (Punjab) and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. This is mandatory that any terrorist/ex-militant entering into India with intention to surrender shall be arrested on the entry point and brought to Counseling Centres. They shall be put on trial before an appropriate court of law for the cases pending against each one of them. Both the state and central government turned a blind eye to merits and consequences of the said policy and as such by 2013, 4081 militants including 279 ‘commanders’ had surrendered out of which, according to the J&K Government 2881 militants were rehabilitated by providing them with fix deposits for three years for an amount of Rs.3 lacs each with grant of monthly relief @Rs.3000/- as interest.
On one hand at that time ,the Government of J&K had issued a fresh order in 2012 with mandatory provision in the recruitment of the fresh government employees in the non-gazetted ranks that each fresh employee shall be paid Rs.3500/- only per month for a period of five years with no other security along with nearly 25000 SPOs (Special Police Officers) who had been duly engaged to perform regular police duties in J&K at that time with a monthly payment of Rs.3500/- only though he was performing the duty of a policeman risking his life every day and on the other hand the Jammu migrants had not been provided relief at par with Kashmiri migrants in spite of the direction of the Supreme Court of India. A contempt of court remained pending before the High Court of J&K for the past many years for the same which was ultimately decided in the favour of 994 identified migrant families of Jammu region in 2016. The Government of J&K in its affidavit had admitted that the State government has paid Rs. 2,45,52,920/- (Two crores forty five Lacs, fifty two thousand, nine hundred & twenty) to the surrendered militants since 2004 and also admitted that Rs.09,18,682/- (Nine Lacs, eighteen thousand, six hundred eighty two) were paid for the weapons the state purchased from the militants and both these facts have been admitted on oath by the Additional Secretary, Home Department, Govt. of J&K in her affidavit filed before the Supreme Court of India. Besides this expenditure, the two rehabilitation centres at Reasi and Mansbal were upgraded at a cost of Rs, 18.92 lakhs with an annual estimated expenditure of Rs. 9.46 lakhs on staff , raw material, furniture, machinery and equipment along with the PHQ providing one Officer I/C DySP and security staff by internal adjustment. Incentives for the weapons surrendered was also there as such AK 47/56/74 Rs. 15000/ each, UMG/GPMG/PICKA/RPG/ Sniper rifle Rs.25,000/ each, pistol/revolver Rs3,000/ each, rocket Rs. 1,000/ each , grenade Rs 500/ each, remote control device Rs. 3,000/ each and ammunition Rs. 3/ each round.
The New Policy drafted by the Home Department, being held by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, proposed to give Rs 6 lakh to every militant who surrenders besides job schemes and massive hike in cash for handing over arms, ammunition/explosives as such AK 47/56/74 Rs.50,000/ each , UMG/GPMG/ PICKA/ RPG/ Sniper rifle Rs.1,00,000/ each, pistol/revolver Rs10,000/ each, rocket Rs.3,000/ each , grenade Rs 3,000/ each, remote control device Rs. 3,000/ each ,IED Rs.10,000/, mine Rs. 20,000/, explosive Rs 5,000/ per kg and ammunition Rs. 100/ each round along with increase in value of surrendered communication and other equipments. The fact raises serious concern that the amount for surrendered militants is more than what the Government gives to a civilian killed by the terrorists or Pakistani firing in the State which is Rs. 5 lakh while the surrendered militant is also due to get Rs 4000 monthly interest, which is almost at par with what educated youths are getting under the Government SRO 202 without any assured sum. Now the most interesting point is which militant will dare to contact Indian High Commission in Pakistan to surrender against the wishes of Pakistani handlers and as such path chosen by militants is via Nepal / Uttar Pradesh /Bihar without mandatory intimation to High Commission. With no prior FIR registered has been invoked against these militants and whatever are registered on their return are all registered u/s 2/3 Egress and Internal Movement (Control) Ordinance (E&IMCO) with some exceptions. The Govt. of J&K in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on August 2013 has also admitted that 282 ex-militants have entered into J&K via Nepal since the Rehabilitation & Surrender Policy was revised in J&K in November, 2010 along with 134 wives of the militants with 432 children born in Pakistan. This raises considerable resentment over the intentions of the Government of J&K which refuses to accept WPRs as State Subjects and described these ex-militants/ terrorists as ‘State Subject’. This is a matter of serious concern for the security of the state that the ex-militants/terrorists have been allowed to enter into J&K via Nepal along with their Non – Indian wives and children. These surrendered militants have now new found role of hawala conduits to provide money to stone pelters and local militants as is evident from the case of Ghulam Mohammed Bhat of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat who was arrested by NIA in 2011 as he received two crores between 2009 and early 2011 from sources in Pakistan through hawala channels. Similar is the story of Sayed Liaquat Shah, who was arrested by Delhi Police along with AK 56 but J&K Police claimed he was going to surrender under rehabilitation policy.
All these facts and many more cases point to only one thing that this policy has too many faults to be implemented in total . As unique as special status of our state, there is as such no parallel policy of incentives for terrorists and purchasing ammunition from them anywhere in the world. All carrots and no stick of this policy in fact acts as a motivation to many youth who cross over the border then return via Nepal route and get the money as well as job under the scheme. Though the initial intent of policy was good and beyond suspicion but it has outlived its shell life and has been blatantly misused by Pakistan and militants. BJP has rightly stalled the new policy for the time being but the Central Government must intervene at appropriate time to revoke the policy itself keeping in view over all national interests.
“Nation First must be the spirit not militants first.”
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