| Home ministry will decide about release of politicians, says Governor | | |  Early Times Report
srinagar, Oct 18: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has asserted that Union Home Ministry (UHM) will decide about the release of politicians in the state.
Expressing concern over the killing of three outsiders by militants in south Kashmir since Monday, Mr Malik said those responsible will not be spared and they will have to pay for these innocent killings.
Ruling out early resumption of pre-paid and internet service in the valley, Mr Malik said those coming from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan will misuse both the facilities to spread hatred and incite people to indulge in trouble.
Three former chief ministers -- Dr Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and dozens of other senior leaders and former Legislators of different mainstream political parties were detained or put under house arrest on August 5, when Centre scrapped Article 370 and 35 A, besides bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a TV interview recently said Dr Abdullah, Omar and Mehbooba have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
Malik said Shah only will take decision about the release of detained politicians, including former Chief Ministers.
The decision to arrest these leaders was taken to prevent any law and order problem in the state, he said, adding after August 5 there were no demonstrations and security forces did not fire a single bullet because of these arrests.
Strongly condemning killing of outsiders by militants in Shopian, Mr Malik said these poor people had come here to earn their livelihood. 'Kashmiris are peace loving and they wanted to live peacefully with everyone,' he added.
The Governor said reports claimed that a foreign and some local militants were responsible for these killings. 'The security forces have identified these militants and are after them,' the Governor said, adding that people strongly condemned these innocent killings.
But, he said, some militants, who had come from PoK and Pakistan, are fomenting trouble in the valley, where situation remained peaceful since August 5.
About pre-paid and internet, he said these services will be restored as and when it will be felt that there is no chance of their misuse by militants and miscreants, particularly from across the border.
All communication network-landline, mobile and internet services-of all Cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was suspended in Jammu and Kashmir on August 4 night. However, landline, mobile and broadband internet services were restored after about a fortnight in Jammu, where mobile internet service remained suspended.
In the Kashmir valley, landlines were resumed after about a month and later postpaid after two months in the valley, where internet service remained suspended.
He said due to suspension of communication network, there was no untoward incident. 'Saving the lives of common people was more necessary than mobile phones,' he said, adding this has helped the administration to save people.
He said post-paid mobile network has been restored now. 'There is apprehension that pre-paid mobile service can be misused by anyone. If anyone comes from PoK and Pakistan, he can get pre-paid mobile connection and misuse it,' he added.
Malik said internet is being misused to spread hatred and trouble mostly from across the border.
He said after post paid mobiles were restored, militants killed three outsiders in three days. But, he said, 'We killed three militants in a single day'.
He accused the national television channels for projecting Kashmir wrongly. 'When there is a minor incident, media repeated it for weeks,' he said, adding nothing is being heard about murders in other parts of the country.
'In my areas in Uttar Pradesh (UP), at least five people are killed every day, chain snatching and other crimes are taking place without any mention of these incidents on national television channels, who are not highlighting good things about Kashmir,' he added. |
|
