The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reconsider the decision to deny government jobs to families of stone pelters in Kashmir, arguing that the policy will worsen existing issues rather than solve them.

In a statement, National Convenor Nasir Khuehami emphasized the need for rehabilitation and unity at this critical time. "Punishing innocent family members for the actions of individuals engaged in unlawful activities is unjustifiable and counterproductive to fostering harmony and inclusivity," Khuehami said.

He highlighted that denying job opportunities to innocent relatives of offenders could prevent their positive integration into society.

Khuehami stressed the principle that individuals should not be punished for the crimes of others, noting that a blanket ban on career prospects would impede the positive transformation of law-abiding family members. He warned that such a policy could perpetuate cycles of alienation and resentment, urging for policies that support rehabilitation rather than punitive measures.

"We should not only welcome those ready to return to the mainstream but also create pathways for future reintegration," Khuehami stated. He called for the recognition and support of those who have reformed, aligning with constitutional values that appreciate positive reformation.

Khuehami concluded by requesting Amit Shah to reconsider policies that deny government jobs to youths with family members involved in law-and-order incidents, advocating for inclusivity and opportunities for rehabilitation to ensure a harmonious and prosperous future for Jammu and Kashmir.

NEW DELHI — Sending a tough message, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that no family member of any militant nor close relatives of stone pelters will get government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shah also said that the Narendra Modi government has not only targeted militants but also eliminated their ecosystem, resulting in a drastic fall in militancy incidents in the country.

“In Kashmir, we have taken a decision that if someone joins a terrorist organisation, their family members will not get any government job,” he told PTI in an interview over the weekend.

Similarly, Shah said, if someone indulges in stone pelting, his family members will also not get a government job.

He said some human rights activists went to the Supreme Court against the decision but, at the end, the government prevailed.

The home minister, however, said the government will make an exception in case someone from a family comes forward and informs the authorities that his or her close relative has joined a militant outfit. Such families will be given relief, he said.

Earlier, funeral processions used to be taken out in Kashmir after a militant was killed, Shah said. “We have stopped this trend. We have ensured that the terrorist is buried with all religious formalities but in an isolated place,” he said.

The home minister said when a militant is surrounded by the security forces, he is first given a chance to surrender. “We call family members like his mother or wife and ask them to make an appeal to the terrorist to surrender. If he (the terrorist) does not listen, he dies,” Shah said.

The home minister said militancy incidents have gone down significantly in Jammu and Kashmir as the government has not only targeted the militants but also eliminated their ecosystem. “Through the NIA (National Investigation Agency), we have taken strong action against terror funding and ended it. We have taken a very tough stand on terror funding,” he said.

In the case of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), Shah said the government has imposed a ban on the publication and spread of the militant ideology by it.

Muslim radical group PFI, founded in Kerala, was banned under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the Centre in September 2022 over its alleged links with terror activities.

In the case of Amritpal Singh, an alleged pro-Khalistani separatist, “we have put him in jail under the NSA (National Security Act),” he said.

Singh, the chief of the radical Sikh separatist group ‘Waris Punjab De’, was arrested in April 2023 in Punjab under the stringent NSA and subsequently shifted to Assam where he is lodged in Dibrugarh jail. He recently filed nomination papers from the jail to contest the Lok Sabha election from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib seat.

According to Union home ministry data, there were 228 militancy-initiated incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018 and the number came down to around 50 in 2023.

There were 189 encounters between security forces and militants in 2018 and it came down to around 40 in 2023. As many as 55 civilians were killed due to various terror incidents in 2018. The number came down to around five in 2023.

In 2018, a total of 91 security personnel were killed in militant violence in Jammu and Kashmir, with the figure declining to around 15 in 2023.

SRINAGAR — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that those having a history of stone pelting and any sort of links with terrorism will not get government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Replying to the discussion on J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill and J&K Re-organisation Bill 2023, in Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister, as per the news agency KNO, said that there will be no sympathy with terrorists and their sympathisers. “Those having the history of stone pelting and any sort of links with the terror and terrorists won’t get government jobs in J&K,” he said, adding that the process of dismissing the government employees having terror links has already started.

Shah said many youths laid down arms and joined the mainstream in the northeast and the Centre will welcome the gun-wielding youth of Kashmir if they lay down their arms and join the mainstream.

The Home Minister said that the Centre has started zero terror and complete area domination plan under which Kashmir will become terror and terrorism free.

He said a terrorist-specific jail will come up in J&K at the cost of Rs 130 crores where only terrorists will be lodged. “There will be jammers and other state-of-the-art facilities to ensure no security breach,” Shah said.

He said that those who have befooled the people of J&K on the pretext that Article 370 was not temporary must been feeling ashamed after the Supreme Court verdict. “We have started to see Kashmir of peace, progress and development,” the Home Minister said, adding that today the souls of Shama Prasad Mukherji and hundreds of those who laid their lives for the nation, must be resting in peace and comfort after SC verdict.

“Shama Prasad Mukheri had resigned from Nehru's cabinet on the pretext that there can’t be two PMs, two constitutions and two flags in one country,” he said.

The Home Minister said that it was after 30 years that J&K saw Muharram procession openly on the road. Stating that not just the BJP but the entire nation welcomes the SC verdict on Article 370, Shah said that J&K has seen a dawn of peace, prosperity and development.

“For 30 years, theatres remained closed and today, three cinemas are functioning and 18 more are coming up. Tourists from Mumbai, Gujarat and Maharashtra are staying in the homes of Kashmiris and so far 10,000 homestays have been recorded,” Shah said, adding that a beginning to see terrorism-free Kashmir has started.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police in Srinagar have arrested 19 accused persons, who were allegedly involved in 'hooliganism, rioting, anti-national sloganeering' and stone-pelting outside Yasin Malik’s house in the Maisuma area of Srinagar on Wednesday evening.

Regarding the incident, a case under FIR number 10/2022 under relevant sections of law was registered in Police Station Maisuma and an investigation was initiated, as per the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

“Accordingly, midnight raids were conducted at many places that led to the arrest of 19 accused persons including the key accused involved in the commission of the crime after proper identification. However, the other accused persons involved in the commission of the crime are being identified and will be booked soon under the relevant law," police said.

"19 accused arrested so far (after proper identification), in relation to arson, stone-pelting, sloganeering etc. outside the house of Yasin Malik on 25th (May). Youth is advised to stay away from such subversive activities. Such activities will never be tolerated at all, now or in future," Srinagar Police tweeted.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said that 10 youth involved in chanting slogans and stone-pelting yesterday outside the residence of JKLF chief Yasin Malik, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, have been arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC) Act.

A police official told news agency Kashmir Dot Com that so far 10 accused youth have been arrested for raising anti-national slogans and stone-pelting outside Malik's home in Maisuma Srinagar.

“Others are being identified and will be arrested soon,” he said, adding that the main instigators of this hooliganism will be booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).

Srinagar Police in a tweet said that such anti-national activities and provocative posture will always be dealt with strictly and with the full force of law.

"Youth are again requested not to indulge in the activities that will spoil their careers and disrupt their families," police added.