Surrendered terrorists to walk away with fat investments in their bank accounts soon

Mehbooba Mufti had proposed to give 6 lakh to the surrendered militant in the form of a Fixed deposit with a lock-in period of 10 years.

If J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had her way soon terrorists surrendering in Jammu and Kashmir would walk away with fat investments in their bank accounts.

Pitching for the introduction of new Rehabilitation and Surrender policy for militants at a recent cabinet meeting Mehbooba Mufti herself proposed a four-fold increase in the compensation amount for those terrorists willing to join the mainstream.

As per the proposal moved by the Chief Minister the surrendered militants were entitled to receive a fixed deposit of Rs 6 lakhs with a lock-in period of 10 years and a monthly sum of Rs 4000 towards interest income for the same period.

The draft of the policy had also proposed a substantial hike in cash for handing over arms, ammunition and explosives.

Dr Singh said that the centre must be taken into confidence as it pertains to matters of national security.

If passed it would mean a four-fold increase in compensation amount paid to surrendered terrorists.

As per the previous policy of 2004, the surrendered terrorists were entitled to receive a fixed deposit of Rs 1.5 lakh and a monthly stipend of Rs 2000 for a period of three years.

But before the Chief Minister could extend the largesse to these surrendered terrorists her alliance partners, BJP cabinet ministers in the state government, opposed it tooth and nail forcing her to defer the decision for the time being.

Senior BJP ministers, while opposing the proposal brought about by the Chief Minister in the cabinet meeting are learnt to have stated, “we are not against the Rehabilitation policy but at the same time we cannot agree to the proposal of paying more money to a surrendered militant than kith and kin of those who fall victims to bullets of these militants”.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her cabinet colleagues from PDP have been claiming that the policy was drafted after receiving a nod from the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to draft a new surrender policy aimed at rewarding those who have picked up arms against the nation.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, however, said,” We have decided against supporting any such move aimed at rewarding those who took up guns and are now ready to come back to the mainstream”.

Dr Singh said before approving such policies the state government must take the centre into confidence and also incorporate its viewpoint as it pertains to matters of national security.

The state police has encouraged local militants to return to the mainstream by not registering FIR’s against freshly recruited militants.

Compensation paid to a victim of militant violence/cross-border firing

At present, there is a provision to pay only Rs 5 lakh to the civilians killed by terrorists and those killed in Pakistan shelling and firing.

According to official sources, a total number of 219 surrendered militants have been benefitted under Rehabilitation policy of 2004 in the last 14 years.

According to official sources, an equal number of 220 cases have been rejected by the high-level panel while only 1 case is under process.

In June 2016 Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had informed the state assembly that a total number of 4,587 youth have crossed over to PoK and Pakistan, while 489 have returned via the Nepal route till date”.

Ironically, none of the youth could be accommodated under the new policy introduced by the alliance govt headed by Omar Abdullah in 2010.

Only those who crossed over to PoK and Pakistan between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 2009, and their dependents were eligible for consideration under the policy.

Since none of the surrendered militants had returned to India via four transit points Wagah, Attari, Salamabad or Chakan-da-bagh crossings on the Line of Control (LoC) and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi the state govt failed to extend the benefits of the policy.

Who will be the beneficiary of new Surrender policy?

Ever since homegrown militants have started responding to the passionate appeals of their parents and returned to the mainstream more than one dozen Kashmiri boys have returned to their homes and started leading their normal lives.

The top brass of the state police has also encouraged these local militants to return to the mainstream by not registering FIR’s against freshly recruited militants.

Under these circumstances, the question arises who will be the real beneficiary of this policy, if implemented.

Security experts claimed how can the state government extend benefits of surrender policy to these misguided youth if they have not listed them as militants nor recorded their return in the police records.

Senior BJP Cabinet ministers had opposed the policy during the cabinet meeting as they were not comfortable with the idea of handing over more monetary benefits to surrendered militants than the victims of militants killed in incidents of militant-related violence.

The surrender will not be accepted if the militant is recycled terrorist

Highlights of the new ‘Rehabilitation and surrender Policy for militants

Mehbooba Mufti had proposed to give 6 lakh to the surrendered militant in the form of a Fixed deposit with a lock-in period of 10 years.

During the deposit period, the militant would continue to get Rs 4000 monthly interest from the bank.

After 10 years, the militant can get the FDR cashed if CID and other security agencies give the certificate of good conduct to him during the period.

The ‘Rehabilitation Policy’ also proposed to give substantial hike in the payment to the militants for handing over arms, ammunition and explosives as compared to the previous `Surrender Policy’ of 2004.

Rs One lakh has been proposed for UMG/GMPG/Pika/RPG/Sniper Rifle as against previous Rs 25,000. For AK rifle, the militant will get Rs 50,000 as against Rs 15,000 per weapon.

Apart from money, the surrendered militant can also avail various Government schemes meant for employment including PMKVY and Himayat.

The Rehabilitation Policy proposed that the surrendered militant involved in heinous crimes like murder, rape, abduction etc will be entitled to benefits only when legal action has been completed, court cases decided and the person has been pronounced as innocent.

Surrenders without incentives will also be considered in case of the youth who went across for training but want to return and join the mainstream.

However, the surrender will not be accepted if the militant is recycled terrorist or who has already surrendered under any other earlier policy.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.