Ramzan move a ‘farce’, spell out road map: Separatists to Centre

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: A day after the Indian government ordered security forces to suspend counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan, senior separatist leaders declined to welcome the move and said the Centre needed to do more.

Moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also the valley’s head cleric, said in a phone interview that a month of “no action is a farce’’, while chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front , Yasin Mallik, described the decision to suspend operations as a “mazaak” (joke).

Civilians were more optimistic, hoping the suspension of military operations will last beyond Ramzan, help improve the situation, and lead to talks between the government and separatist leaders.

But serving and retired army officers who have had stints in the troubled state felt the onemonth halt would have no impact on the army’s long-term operational strategy in the Valley.

Some said only militants would benefit from the political move, which came on a request by J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. SRINAGAR: A man was kidnapped and tortured to death allegedly by militants in Hajin area of Bandipora in north Kashmir, J&K police said on Thursday.

Hilal Ahmad Parray was abducted from his house late on Wednesday night and his body found in a nursery at a neighbouring locality early on Thursday.