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| Peace offensive in Kashmir to continue | | Dozens of J&K detainees to be freed next month | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, SEPT. 22: The government of India has agreed, in principle, to permit the release of dozens of Kashmiri prisoners from various jails within and outside the Jammu and Kashmir State. According to sources in the Union Home Ministry, the J&K Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, is for the 'freedom' of those who are not involved in heinous crimes.
The plan envisages release of dozens of Kashmiri prisoners in phases, during the holy month of Ramazan starting next week. Even as the Union Government is reported to have finalised, in consultations with the Jammu and Kashmir administration, the first batch of prisoners to be set free, mandarins of the Ministry of Home Affairs refused to divulge the number and identity of theese detainees.
At the same time, indications were by no means uncertain that the first batch of 40-odd detainees has been cleared for the release in the near future. The Centre's decision to set free the detainees in a phased manner is said to be part of the official plan to carry forward the peace process and to engage pro-peace leaders and groups in Kashmir in the peace offensive.
It is recalled that the question of the release of political detainees did figure during the May 3 meeting a delegation of the Hurriyat Conference had with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in Delhi. Ther Hurriyat team had got an encouraging response from the Prime Minister.
That the Centre was keen on a follow-up action in this regard was borne out by the unpublished instructions to the Jammu and Kashmir government's Chief Secretary seeking a list of those prisoners, to begin with, who were not directly involved in the killing of inocent people in the Himalayan State. According to knowledgeable sources, the Union Home Secretary, V K Duggal, was mandated by his Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, to be in touch with the J&K government's Chief Secretary on how to go about the issue, arising from the demand for "early" freedom of political prisoners.
Clearance from various security agencies, according to these sources, has to be obtained before the Ministry of Home Affairs sends out a signal to the J&K Chief Secretary with regard to the Centre's 'yes' to the proposal favouring release of a number of detainees.
When will the first batch of detainees get freed? "You have to wait and watch as the process has begun", said sources in the Home Ministry. These sources declined to be drawn into discussion. These sources told EARLY TIMES: "The Centre is committed to having dialogue with all groups and different shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir". This apart, the Centre will attach signifcance to three aspects. First, dialogue proces will not be allowed to get derailed by the "enemy within and enemy outside the country".
Second, the talks will be on "a sustained basis". Third, they will be carried forward "in consultation with the present Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir", these sources explained. The Union government hoped that the dialogue with all groups in J&K will lead to resolution of the "outstanding issues relating Jammu and Kashmir", sources said.
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