Elections 1998: The elections to the 12th Lok Sabha in the State of Jammu and Kashmir commenced with rest of the country ...
Situation in J&K: Militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has taken-a human toll of more than 18,000 lives in the last one decade. The militants, aided and abetted by Pak ISI, bave done enormous damage to the Kashmiri people and to its economy ...
Some of the major incidents of terrorism perpetrated by the militants since January, 1997 are mentioned below:
On 3 January 1997, an IED planted in an auto-rickshaw exploded near Gupkar Road, Srinagar killing 7 persons and injuring 14 others
On 21 March 1997, militants fired indiscriminately and killed 7 Kashmiri Pandits in Sangrampura village of Budgam district.
On 29 March 1997, militants exploded a bomb at Jammu Bus stand killing 15 persons and injuring over 60 persons ..
On 15 June 1997, militants brutally killed 3 Kashmiri Pandit teachers after pulling them out from a passenger bus in an interior area of Gool in Udhampur district.
On 29 June 1997, 3 persons including a leader of Panthers Party were killed in an explosion in MLA Hostel, Srinagar.
On 23 September 1997, militants resorted to indiscriminate firing in village Sawari of Rajouri district killing 8 Hindus and injuring 4 others.
On 15 October 1997, militants ambushed a team of village Defence Committee members in Doda district killing 3 of them and injuring 2 others.
On 23 October 1997, a blast took place in a passenger bus near Cement bridge in Srinagar killing 2 persons and injuring 17 others.
On 31 October 1997, there was a car explosion at Regal Chowk in Srinagar killing 3 persons and injuring 25 others.
On 25/26 January 1998, killing of 23 members of Kashmiri Pandits at Wandhama village, Srinagar ....
Militants have increasingly been resorting to attacks on soft targets to try and keep up a feeling of fear among the people and vitiate the atmosphere. The selective killings of Kashmiri Pandits not only indicates desperation of a sinister nature but also reflects the apprehensions about the return of the migrants to the Valley. There has also been a sustained bid to increase infiltration into the Jammu region ... The entire districts of Anantnag, Baramulla, Badgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Srinagar and areas falling within 20 kms of the Line of Control in the districts of Rajouri and Poonch continued as declared Disturbed Areas under the Armed Forces (J&K) Special Powers Act, 1990.
.. In qualitative terms, there has been a definite and distinct improvement in the overall situation. Some indicators of this are regular visits by large number of people to the Secretariat and to public representatives, a visible relaxation in the normal life in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, a sharp decline in the public response to the "bandhs" called by KJHC and militant groups, participation of thousands of persons in the festivities after Id in Srinagar, large attendance of people in meetings addressed by political leaders and large voter participation in Lok Sabha elections 1998, marked step up in the involvement of Police in anti-militancy operations and a definite increase in the flow of information about militants to the Police and Security forces. 514 militants surrendered with arms (after the formation of the popular Government) from 1.1.1996 to 28.2.1998.
... In sustained anti-terrorist operations during the year 1997, 1075 militants, including 197 foreign nationals/mercenaries, were killed and a huge quantity of weapons including around 1800 AK series rifles, ... grenades and explosives were recovered.
The President of India visited Srinagar in November 1997 for the convocation of Kashmir University. The Prime Minister has visited J&K six times during the calendar year 1997. The Finance Minister had taken a meeting with heads of nationalised banks/financial institutions in October, 1997 to review the flow of credit in the State and other related matters ...
Surrender Policy:
... After announcement of the Surrender Policy in 1995, upto December 15, 1997, 1375 militants have surrendered. These militants have also surrendered a large quantity of arms and ammunition. From 1990 onwards, 2691 militants have surrendered. The Government of India had approved raising of two battalions for the Central Para Military Forces ... (They) will also be covered under Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojna or State Self-employment Scheme ..
Council for Rehabilitation of Widows and Orphaned:
... The State Government ... had set up in 1995 a Council for rehabilitation of widows, orphans, handicapped and old-aged persons adversely affected by militancy. The Council is to have a corpus fund of Rs. 20 crores, income from which is to be utilised for operation ...
Government Statements On Foreign Militants
At present ten militant organisations (are operating) in Jammu and Kashmir
(1) Hiz-ul Mujahideen (2) Harkat-ul-Ansar
(3) Lashkar-e-Taiba (4) Al-Burg
(5) Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (6) Al-Jehad
(7) J&K Liberation Front (8) Al-Umar Mujahideen
(9) Hizbullah (10) Dukhtaran-e-Millat
Harkat-ul-Ansar and Lashkar-e-Taiba are pan-Islamic outfits, based in Pakistan. The other groups are also supported and financed actively from Pakistan and some of them even have bases in Pakistan/POK.
Harkat-ul-Ansar, Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba are the most active militant groups ... at present.
However ... the particular group involved in the Prankot massacre (has not been identified) and no group has claimed responsibility for it so far. ...
(Source: LSUQ No. 1898 dated 9.6.1998 by V. Goel and K.L. Sharma)
On Kashmiri Hindus
According to the 1981 census, there were 3.89% Hindus in the Valley. The 1991 census was not held in J&K due to disturbed conditions.
There are 28,867 Kashmiri migrant families registered in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 2,347 in other parts of the country. Community-wise break-up of migrant families is not available.
(Source: LSUQ No. 1984 dated 9 June 1998 by S. Swamy)
On Displaced Persons
The Government of Jamuu & Kashmir provides ex-gratia relief to the migrants for damage caused to their immovable properties left behind in the Valley at the rate of 50 per cent of the assessed value of loss subject to a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh. They have also provided loans under Prime Minister Rozgar Yojna and State Self-employment Scheme to some migrants. They have spent Rs. 24.17 crores on ex-gratia relief to the victims of terrorist violence (deaths/damage to property) up to March 1998). ... Very few families have returned to the Valley. It is difficult to ascertain the exact numbers.
(Source: LSUQ No. 1923 dated 9 June,1998 by L. Pandey, J. Patnaik nd P.L. Mohale)
On Hurriyat Conference
... Government are aware of the reports about the meeting of Hurriyat leaders with various diplomats in Delhi and about the assurance by officials of Pak High Commission their continued support to the Hurriyat leaders. There is no restriction on any person for visiting any Embassy/High Commission and meeting diplomats. However, Government is keeping a close watch on the activities of Hurriyat leaders
(Source: LSUQ No. 3911 dated 14 July, 1998 by K.S. Rao)
Swati Chaturvedi On State Terrorism in Valley
Aag Lagao. Mere ko dead body chahiye. This is how J.K. Sharma, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Commandant of Border Security Force's 75th battalion, is said to have told his men before they shot nine innocent civilians in cold-blood in Mashali Mohalla, Srinagar on August 6, 1990.
Now the BSF court on inquiry is drawing to a close. This will be the first court martial of its kind and E.N. Rammohan, Director General of the BSF, says the final orders against the DIG and three others, will be issued later this month.
"The BSF is ashamed of this incident", Rammohan (said). "Innocent civilians were killed and there is no question of the perpetrators of the crime being spared".
The court of inquiry charged Sharma with "omission of effective command and control over his troops which led to uncontrolled firing which led to the death of civilians." The other charges are culpable homicide (not amounting to murder) and causing grievous injuries. Sharma has also been charged with committing an outrage on the modesty of a woman. The three other BSF personnel also face similar charges. The maximum prison term they face under the Indian Penal Code is seven years. (Source: The Indian Express, 1 July, 1998)