Militants in Valley given option to ‘ surrender’ to their families AMU expels scholar with ‘militant links’
YOUTH CONNECT Police say no action against those who haven’t taken part in any attacks under the ‘no case, no apprehension’ policy
SRINAGAR/NEWDELHI: In a bid to convince Kashmiri youth, who have recently joined Valley-based militant groups, to give up arms, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police said they need not come to police stations to surrender but can “simply join their families’’ under the “no case no apprehension policy”.
Police maintain the exercise of surrender will take place in front of the families.
The policy, which for now sounds more like an appeal, is for militants who have not participated in any attacks or active militant operations against security forces in Kashmir. But the lines have only been drawn for those who don't have any criminal cases registered against them and “are not involved in any heinous acts”. The surrender policy is just for local youth.
The move comes in the backdrop of a research scholar of Aligarh Muslim University joining the Hizbul Mujahideen.
“Police have appealed to local youth to give up arms and in return neither will they be apprehended nor will any cases be lodged against them,” a senior J&K police official told HT.
The official said “developments” in the first week of 2018, which signalled a worrying situa- tion for the security forces posted in the state, prompted authorities to make the appeal.
Munir Ahmed Khan, additional director general of police, told HT, “The youth can return to their families and we will do whatever talking we have to do. If a militant who surrenders has a case under section 302 (murder) against him or is involved in serious cases, he will have to face the law. This should be clear.”
DGP SP Vaid told HT, “The move is aimed at preventing new recruits from indulging in violence before it is too late. Their parents are helping us bring them back into the mainstream.”
While joining a militant outfit can immediately attract sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, police for now seem to have suggested that no charges will be filed against youth joining militant ranks. Officials of the ministry of home affairs maintained that the state government is yet to consult the ministry over the issue but added that “state authorities can independently take decisions when it comes to law and order”.
“Both the state and central government have introduced a number of means through which the youth who have joined militancy can return back to the mainstream,” a senior MHA official said. ALIGARH: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) suspended Kashmiri research scholar Mannan Wani, 26, on Monday and constituted an inquiry committee, following reports that he had joined the terror group Hizbul Mujahideen on January 5.
UP police also raided Wani’s room at Habib Hall in the presence of AMU proctor Prof M Mohsin Khan. The cops seized the literature recovered from the room and then sealed it.
Later, SSP Rajesh Pandey told media persons, “The literature found in room no 237 (of Habib Hall, AMU) has been seized for further investigation. University proctor and other officials were present during the raid.”
The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) said that Wani, who had won an award for a reasearch paper in 2016, was on AMU campus till January 2. “After that he went missing. His family lodged a missing person complaint on January 5. The police and intelligence agencies have been scrutinising Wani’s activities and his contacts in Aligarh. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also probing the matter,” he said.
SP (city) Atul Srivastva also confirmed that as the matter was related to national security, the NIA and the Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) were investigating it. “The Aligarh police will cooperate with them and report to them,” he said.
Wani’s picture, in which he is seen posing with an assault rifle, went viral on social media soon after his disappearance.
Reportedly, the police is working to find out if the photograph is genuine.
Meanwhile the university’s proctor said, “Mannan Wani was a research student of Applied Geology at the university. We suspended him following reports that he had joined Hizbul Mujahideen. A committee will look into his activities - both in the department and outside. AMU vice-chancellor Prof Tariq Mansoor is taking a very serious view of this matter.”
AMUSU president Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani said the student union would support all steps taken by the varsity administration in the matter.
“No anti-national activity will be accepted on our campus. We have zero tolerance for such incidents. If Mannan Wani is found involved in anti-national activities, stern action must be taken against him,” he said.