Now get it from the horse’s mouth… About a nation done wrong with, and anti-nationals being coddled and fed at our cost. Every paragraph is a wake up call.
Terrorism & Kashmir
Joginder Singh, IPS (Retd.)
A CRPF Inspector General was transferred from Srinagar, on 13th August, 2008 after an uproar in the Kashmir valley, led by the terrorists and their supporters, against alleged excesses by the central paramilitary force. He was also allegedly denied a Police medal, for fear of controversy and likely protests in the valley.
There is nothing new, in this kind of approach, as the decisions makers are safe in air conditioned atmosphere somewhere else. The people facing dire situation of life and death and standing between chaos and order, are on the spot. The former judge and some times pan-der to the local sentiments by sacrificing the people on the spot, hoping, that it will buy them peace and retrieve the situation. It is, simple application of band aid, where a surgical operation is called for it.
A Former Governor of J&K had lost his job, in 1990, for taking a tough stand against the anti Indian and anti national elements. Neither his transfer did, and nor the transfer of the IGP CRPF is going to normalise the situation and convert the anti national elements and terrorists into normal citizens. On the contrary, it will encourage, such elements, that they can do any-thing and get away.
Wherever the Government of the day, has fallen for appeasement and compromise on the basic values, it has invited more and more trouble. Terrorism in valley flourishes and thrives or remains under check, in direct proportion, to the political will and strength to deal with the same effectively.
It commenced, with the kidnapping of the daughter of a former Home Minister, who is also a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. To get her released, the Government of the day released five dreaded terrorists. It emboldened them, leading to their much applauded freedom, possibly with some ransom, money, though there is no confirmation of this report. It was enough, to start a series of chain reactions in valley from 1988. I am an eye witness to that part of the history, as I was working at that time as Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force, in Srinagar.
The tendency to under play, has led, to the terrorists to openly dictating the people , about using of Purdaha by the women, closure of beauty parlours and cinemas houses, and raising pro Pakistan slogans.
The Prime Minister has given a laudable call, from the ramparts of red fort on 15th August, 2008 to shed communalism. But unfortunately, the whole agitation, in valley is based on the communal lines. However and how much we may wish, communalism of one community generates communalism in others, in accordance with the Newton’s law, which enunciates, that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Otherwise, how hordes of people led by the terrorists, could start a march towards Pakistan for crossing the border. The Government should have come out, with the statement, that those who cross illegally, would not be allowed, entry back into India, without the Indian Passports, as is applicable to all Indians going abroad and returning home.
A series of misconceived policies, or so called people to people contact, have brought about this situation. Otherwise, how could a partner in coalition plead for the Pakistan currency to be allowed to be used in J&K. Lack of clear policy and molly coddling, has cause the present chaos.
It would be wrong to say that transferring 39.88 hectares of forest land to Amarnath shrine board and its reaction in Jammu has led to the present situation.
The terrorists have been going, all out, to create disturbances and problems as per the following report of J& K Government which says; “A total of 42,147 people, including 20,647 militants and 5,024 security personnel, were killed in the state between January 1990 and the middle of February 2007… Violence left 33,885 people, including 12,124 security personnel and 21,659 civilians, injured during the same period in the state.. 11,221 civilians were killed by militants and another 1,678 lost their lives in grenade and Improvised Explosive Device explosions, while 173 civilians were killed when they were caught in clashes between militants. A total of 3,404 civilians were killed in cross-firing incidents between security forces and militants…
The highest number of 1,438 civilians were killed in 1996, the year elections were held after a gap of seven year. While the highest number of 3,602 army and other paramilitary personnel lost their lives fighting militants, Jammu and Kashmir police lost 537 personnel since January 1990. As many as 438 Special Police Officers engaged by police in the counter-insurgency operations were killed. 127 Village Defence Committee members were killed fighting militants in the state.
The highest number of 613 security personnel were killed in a single year in 2001.” Now the question arises, as to what can be done. Also whether what is being done is sufficient. In 1990, the midnight protests were sparked off, by the calls given by given 1100 Mosques, which had installed loud speakers to call the faithful to prayers. Loudspeakers in mosques, then and even now are being employed, to give calls for anti national activities and asking the people to gather in the streets or at a particular spot. The then Governor had ordered the disconnection of the loud speakers, which itself led to protests.
It is a fact that many terrorists take shelter in the religious places of their respective religion. During my recent visit to the USA, I was told that the police had installed CCTV cam-eras in mosques to monitor any such possible activity, with the cooperation of the Muslim community and their religious leaders. This is to prevent any allegation of forcible entry of the Police, which may cause desecration.
In a situation like this, which has been highly communalized, it is impossible to get any kind of evidence to prove anybody’s anti national activities, as no witness would be willing to come forth to depose, even if a witness protection act, is there. In fact, at present there is no witness protection act available. Margret Thatcher used to say the publicity is the oxygen of terrorism. Any kind of publicity, which eulogizes terrorism, should be discouraged, if not exactly banned.
Terrorist leaders, their supporters and sympathizers should be immobilized by using the present laws and detained outside J&K. The Government has announced pension scheme for the families of the terrorists, on the grounds that it is not their fault, if their children have become terrorists. This approach is fraught with danger and sooner it is given up, the better it is. Why only Kashmiris should be selected for this government munificence. Such people in Punjab, Chattisgarh, Assam and other North Eastern States, have similar claims. It should not become a scheme to help the anti national and traitorous elements.
Many so called intellectual talk about referendum in valley. With Pakistan having hijacked the anti national elements, any referendum or election will be irrelevant at present. The first priority is to drive the Pakistani terrorists out of the valley and send them to the country of their origin. The Government should stop all talks of dialogue, with so called militants, who are nothing more than front men of Pakistan. Only a tough approach will send the right signal that Government means business. The Government is spending much more on Kashmir than on other States.
A Kashmiri gets eight times more money from the Centre than citizens from other states. While per capita Central assistance to other states moved from Rs 576.24 in 1992-93 to Rs 1,137 in 2000-1, that of the Kashmiri spiralled from Rs 3,197 to Rs 8,092. To get a perspective, translate the numbers: this cash, managed by the state Government, were to be dispatched by money order, each Kashmiri family (with five members on an average) would get Rs 40,460 every year.
In 2001-2, the state spent Rs 7,516.6 crore of which Rs 4,577 crore-or 60 paise of every rupee spent-came from the Centre. The state's non-development expenditure was Rs 2,829 crore including a salary bill of Rs 1,193 crore while its own revenues were barely Rs 1,095 crore. The state could not have paid even the wages of its employees without the Centre's help.
It is reported that the benefits of central funds have remained confined only to about 150 families in Kashmir and the rest of the money has disappeared or not spent or improperly spent or drained off. The benefits of Central aid have not reached the common man, who has not developed a stake in India. The Government priority number one should be to root out corruption. With these steps, it should be possible to send a right message both to Pakistan and its henchmen and people in the valley.
(The Author is former Director Central Bureau Of Investigation, INDIA)
Source: YFE Crusader, Issue 2, Sep 2008. You can download the e-zine from http://www.yfemovement.com/
Terrorism & Kashmir
Joginder Singh, IPS (Retd.)
A CRPF Inspector General was transferred from Srinagar, on 13th August, 2008 after an uproar in the Kashmir valley, led by the terrorists and their supporters, against alleged excesses by the central paramilitary force. He was also allegedly denied a Police medal, for fear of controversy and likely protests in the valley.
There is nothing new, in this kind of approach, as the decisions makers are safe in air conditioned atmosphere somewhere else. The people facing dire situation of life and death and standing between chaos and order, are on the spot. The former judge and some times pan-der to the local sentiments by sacrificing the people on the spot, hoping, that it will buy them peace and retrieve the situation. It is, simple application of band aid, where a surgical operation is called for it.
A Former Governor of J&K had lost his job, in 1990, for taking a tough stand against the anti Indian and anti national elements. Neither his transfer did, and nor the transfer of the IGP CRPF is going to normalise the situation and convert the anti national elements and terrorists into normal citizens. On the contrary, it will encourage, such elements, that they can do any-thing and get away.
Wherever the Government of the day, has fallen for appeasement and compromise on the basic values, it has invited more and more trouble. Terrorism in valley flourishes and thrives or remains under check, in direct proportion, to the political will and strength to deal with the same effectively.
It commenced, with the kidnapping of the daughter of a former Home Minister, who is also a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. To get her released, the Government of the day released five dreaded terrorists. It emboldened them, leading to their much applauded freedom, possibly with some ransom, money, though there is no confirmation of this report. It was enough, to start a series of chain reactions in valley from 1988. I am an eye witness to that part of the history, as I was working at that time as Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force, in Srinagar.
The tendency to under play, has led, to the terrorists to openly dictating the people , about using of Purdaha by the women, closure of beauty parlours and cinemas houses, and raising pro Pakistan slogans.
The Prime Minister has given a laudable call, from the ramparts of red fort on 15th August, 2008 to shed communalism. But unfortunately, the whole agitation, in valley is based on the communal lines. However and how much we may wish, communalism of one community generates communalism in others, in accordance with the Newton’s law, which enunciates, that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Otherwise, how hordes of people led by the terrorists, could start a march towards Pakistan for crossing the border. The Government should have come out, with the statement, that those who cross illegally, would not be allowed, entry back into India, without the Indian Passports, as is applicable to all Indians going abroad and returning home.
A series of misconceived policies, or so called people to people contact, have brought about this situation. Otherwise, how could a partner in coalition plead for the Pakistan currency to be allowed to be used in J&K. Lack of clear policy and molly coddling, has cause the present chaos.
It would be wrong to say that transferring 39.88 hectares of forest land to Amarnath shrine board and its reaction in Jammu has led to the present situation.
The terrorists have been going, all out, to create disturbances and problems as per the following report of J& K Government which says; “A total of 42,147 people, including 20,647 militants and 5,024 security personnel, were killed in the state between January 1990 and the middle of February 2007… Violence left 33,885 people, including 12,124 security personnel and 21,659 civilians, injured during the same period in the state.. 11,221 civilians were killed by militants and another 1,678 lost their lives in grenade and Improvised Explosive Device explosions, while 173 civilians were killed when they were caught in clashes between militants. A total of 3,404 civilians were killed in cross-firing incidents between security forces and militants…
The highest number of 1,438 civilians were killed in 1996, the year elections were held after a gap of seven year. While the highest number of 3,602 army and other paramilitary personnel lost their lives fighting militants, Jammu and Kashmir police lost 537 personnel since January 1990. As many as 438 Special Police Officers engaged by police in the counter-insurgency operations were killed. 127 Village Defence Committee members were killed fighting militants in the state.
The highest number of 613 security personnel were killed in a single year in 2001.” Now the question arises, as to what can be done. Also whether what is being done is sufficient. In 1990, the midnight protests were sparked off, by the calls given by given 1100 Mosques, which had installed loud speakers to call the faithful to prayers. Loudspeakers in mosques, then and even now are being employed, to give calls for anti national activities and asking the people to gather in the streets or at a particular spot. The then Governor had ordered the disconnection of the loud speakers, which itself led to protests.
It is a fact that many terrorists take shelter in the religious places of their respective religion. During my recent visit to the USA, I was told that the police had installed CCTV cam-eras in mosques to monitor any such possible activity, with the cooperation of the Muslim community and their religious leaders. This is to prevent any allegation of forcible entry of the Police, which may cause desecration.
In a situation like this, which has been highly communalized, it is impossible to get any kind of evidence to prove anybody’s anti national activities, as no witness would be willing to come forth to depose, even if a witness protection act, is there. In fact, at present there is no witness protection act available. Margret Thatcher used to say the publicity is the oxygen of terrorism. Any kind of publicity, which eulogizes terrorism, should be discouraged, if not exactly banned.
Terrorist leaders, their supporters and sympathizers should be immobilized by using the present laws and detained outside J&K. The Government has announced pension scheme for the families of the terrorists, on the grounds that it is not their fault, if their children have become terrorists. This approach is fraught with danger and sooner it is given up, the better it is. Why only Kashmiris should be selected for this government munificence. Such people in Punjab, Chattisgarh, Assam and other North Eastern States, have similar claims. It should not become a scheme to help the anti national and traitorous elements.
Many so called intellectual talk about referendum in valley. With Pakistan having hijacked the anti national elements, any referendum or election will be irrelevant at present. The first priority is to drive the Pakistani terrorists out of the valley and send them to the country of their origin. The Government should stop all talks of dialogue, with so called militants, who are nothing more than front men of Pakistan. Only a tough approach will send the right signal that Government means business. The Government is spending much more on Kashmir than on other States.
A Kashmiri gets eight times more money from the Centre than citizens from other states. While per capita Central assistance to other states moved from Rs 576.24 in 1992-93 to Rs 1,137 in 2000-1, that of the Kashmiri spiralled from Rs 3,197 to Rs 8,092. To get a perspective, translate the numbers: this cash, managed by the state Government, were to be dispatched by money order, each Kashmiri family (with five members on an average) would get Rs 40,460 every year.
In 2001-2, the state spent Rs 7,516.6 crore of which Rs 4,577 crore-or 60 paise of every rupee spent-came from the Centre. The state's non-development expenditure was Rs 2,829 crore including a salary bill of Rs 1,193 crore while its own revenues were barely Rs 1,095 crore. The state could not have paid even the wages of its employees without the Centre's help.
It is reported that the benefits of central funds have remained confined only to about 150 families in Kashmir and the rest of the money has disappeared or not spent or improperly spent or drained off. The benefits of Central aid have not reached the common man, who has not developed a stake in India. The Government priority number one should be to root out corruption. With these steps, it should be possible to send a right message both to Pakistan and its henchmen and people in the valley.
(The Author is former Director Central Bureau Of Investigation, INDIA)
Source: YFE Crusader, Issue 2, Sep 2008. You can download the e-zine from http://www.yfemovement.com/
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