Srinagar March 21 2018
Ignoring objections raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party,the Jammu and Kashmir government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of the PeoplesDemocratic Party has decided to go ahead with its decision toreward militants, who surrender before security forces, with Rs 6 lakhs.
The Rs 6 lakh reward will be part of the revised ‘Rehabilitation Policy for Militants’. The move is being dubbed as a betrayal of the security forces and appears to be incentivising terrorism in the Kashmir Valley.
As per the details available with Times Now, a terrorist who surrenders in theValley will be rewarded with Rs 6 lakhs in theform of an FDR (fixed deposit) that will have a lock-in period of 10 years and will becomeencashable upon display of good behaviour.
While the FD will have a lock-in period of 1years, the surrendered militants will be able to receive Rs 4000 in interest per month with immediate effect. Under the previous Rehabilitation Policy, a terrorist who surrenders was supposed to receive Rs 1.5 lakh in reward as FDR with a lock-in period of three years. There was no provision of monthly payment of interest in the previous policy.
At least 4 terrorists gunned down by Indian Army in Kupwara The revised policy,drafted by the Home Department which is held by CM Mufti, also has provision for job schemes and a massive hike in cash for handing over arms, ammunition and explosives. Differences had surfaced between the two coalition partners, PDP and BJP, over the revision in the ‘Rehabilitation Policy for Militants’.
As per reports, the amount to be given to a terrorist for surrendering under new policy is more than what the government gives as compensation to the kin of a civilian killed by terrorists or in Pakistani firing along the Line of Control and International Border.
That amount stands at Rs 5lakh. Further, the Rs 4,000 monthly interest is nearly equal to what the state government gives to educated youths under the ‘Fixed Pay Policy’, a report in Kashmiri newspaper The Daily Excelsior said. BJP ministers in the state government had objected to the ‘Rehabilitation Policy’, saying it was “unacceptable” and demanded it is deferred.
Further, under the revised ‘Rehabilitation Policy’, an increase of four- to 10-times has been provisioned in the payment to terrorists for handing over arms, ammunition and explosives. Rs 1 lakh will be given for UMG/GMPG/Pika/RPG/Sniper Rifle as against previous Rs 25,000. For AK rifle, the terrorist will get Rs 50,000 as against Rs 15,000 per weapon. Times Now
