Kashmir unrest: Modi government to act tough with separatists

MHA may withdraw passports, dilute security.

The Centre plans to act tough against separatist leaders in Jammu & Kashmir by curbing their foreign travel and security after their “cold response” to an all-party delegation from Delhi that returned from the violence-hit region without any breakthrough.

The Centre may withdraw separatist leaders’ passports, deny travel documents in some cases, scrutinise their bank accounts and complete investigations in cases pending against them, sources in the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) said on Tuesday.

The MHA wants to send a strong message that those provoking youths in Kashmir to resort to violence will not be spared, sources said. This was after Union home Minister Rajnath Singh — who led the 26-member delegation to the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu —briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an hour on Tuesday on the situation in Kashmir.

“The PM has endorsed our view that the time has come to take a tough stand against such elements,” a senior MHA official said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is already investigating a case of funds suspected to be routed though a hawala network to Kashmir to fuel the current unrest.

About 75 people have been killed and thousands wounded in clashes between security forces and protesters in two months of violence sparked by the encounter killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

On Tuesday, security forces fired on stone-pelting mobs in Ananatnag, killing a youth and injuring about 120 protesters. Earlier in the day, a youth — injured in Sopore on Sunday — passed away in Srinagar. Hundreds of protesters chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans attended his funeral in Baramulla district.

A final decision on the curbs will be taken after the delegation, which concluded its two-day visit on Monday, meets in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss findings and chalk out future plans for the State.

CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury, JD-U’s Sharad Yadav of JD-U, RJD’s Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and CPI’s D Raja had gone to meet Hurriyat leaders. But the separatists, who are calling the shots in the prevailing situation, boycotted the delegation, saying no talks were possible within “India’s constitutional framework”.

This prompting Singh to say that such a behaviour was neither ‘Kashmiriyat’ nor ‘Insaniyat’. Singh also met BJP chief Amit Shah and other senior ministerial colleagues on Tuesday evening and discussed the visit. The party’s central political team is expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the developments. MHA sources said the a lack of governance was a major concern in J&K, and the Mehbooba Mufti government was treating separatists with kid gloves.

J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Tuesday that the approach of separatists was not in the State’s interest. She said, “We have lost several opportunities in the past to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue. If we miss the chance today, the future generations will not forgive us.”