BLUNT BUTCHER
JAMMU: Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s reported assurance to Jammu and Chief Minister about legalisation of Nepal route for return of so-called reformed terrorists is intriguing, especially at a time when Jihadis are making their presence felt by attacking security forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police. What does the BJP led NDA want to convey about those who have been taking illegal routes to return back, without even expressing remorse for their continued anti-national activities. In fact, none of the returnee did ever denounce terror as a medium to achieve political objectives. Therefore their return will always remain a mystery and worrying factor because recycling of surrendered militants is not new in the Valley.
The so-called reformed terrorists are not coming alone. They return along with their families, comprising herd of children. ‘God bless them for going single as teens (to wage war against India) and returning in multiples as middle-aged persons (to remain in standby as sleeper cells), courtesy the element of sympathy they enjoy from successive State Governments and the visionless Centre! The renewed effort by Kashmir’s so-called mainstream has met with success by BJP stalwart and Home Minister showing inclination to facilitate ‘illegal passage’ of terrorists. But, this should not surprise anyone because the BJP has track record of betrayal. Remember how the then Union Minister Jawant Singh accompanied terrorists to Kandhar, which included Masood Azhar, who has intensified terror grid against India. They BJP may be exploiting public sentiment by crying hoarse against Pakistan and Jihadis when in the opposition but it has worse record than Congress to placate the enemies of the nation.
Return of terrorists has potential of renewing subdued militancy again. Generally, the refrain of the ‘returnees’ remain that they are disillusioned because of the lackadaisical attitude of perpetrators of terrorism across the border. This infers that they would have continued with ‘Jihad’, had the sponsors been cooperative? This is important. This speaks that the urge for ‘getting rid’ of India has not died down. According to Guardian, two ‘returnees’ under the garb of rehabilitation scheme, had again taken to arms nearly three years ago. This may be the pattern with many such returnees There has not been a word from the government or the security forces about current status of terrorists returned back to live a ‘quite life’. Officially, however, not a single person has crossed over to this side under the rehabilitation policy. “Due to some inexplicable reasons, no individual has returned from Pak/PoK to the State through the routes identified under the policy so far. Therefore, the benefit of the policy could not be extended to any of the individuals,” Chief Minister had stated in a written reply to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in October 2013. He, however, admitted that 277 persons and their 578 family members had returned home via Nepal. Nothing is known about the nationality of wives the Jihadis have taken during their ‘adventure’ in Pakistan or the action initiated by the Government of India or the Government of Jammu and Kashmir against these offenders. The mainstream parties or the Jammu based socio-political organizations have never raised this issue with the intensity it deserved. If at all any party has been vocal about the ‘returnees’, it is Peoples Democratic Party that has been asking about assistance they have been provided.
The controversial surrender package devised by the Jammu and Kashmir government since 2004 was finally implemented in 2010. It included a monthly package of Rs 3,000 a month for three years within which time if they can show good conduct they can claim a bonus package of Rs 2 lakh to start life afresh. This was imperative since the number of Kashmiri militants in Pakistan or Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) ran into thousands.
The policy covered those not involved in heinous crimes and believing in the unity and integrity of India. These are two important components which deserve attention. The biggest crime committed by the terrorists has been crossing over the border illegally with a sinister objective of waging war against the nation at the behest of hostile neighbour. However, having condoned this crime, rightly or wrongly, the change of heart to give up violence and to believe in the integrity of India has not been made mandatory. Instead of making this as the eligibility for return, the BJP is talking about legalising illegal mechanism being adopted by terrorists.
There are apprehensions that terrorists holed up across the Line of Control or those waiting at the launching pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir may be choosing the path of surrender to reach Kashmir, as the scope for ingress and out-gress has almost been made impossible by the border fencing and agile Indian troops. That is why terrorists are opting Nepal route, which Rajnath Singh wants to legalise, if government agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are believed.