‘Police is jailing youths to extort money’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti that he would soon engage with the people of the state and a “meaningful dialogue” would be started to end the three-month long unrest, sources in the ruling People’s Democratic Party, an ally of the BJP, told this newspaper. Sources said the assurance from PM Modi was offered as soon as an “emotional” CM Mufti requested him for “tangible Confidence Building Measures” in the latest meeting between the two. She has asked the Central government to reach out to the people of Kashmir with political and economic initiatives, a move, she is confident, will end the deadlock.
According to reports, the Centre will take a final call in the matter after going through the report submitted by the National Security Adviser about the situation in the valley, including the condition at the border. CM Mufti, who indicated her resolve to continue the PDP-BJP alliance despite opposition from her own colleagues in the PDP, apprised the PM about the “human problem” at the border due to escalation of conflict between India and Pakistan. She has apparently told the PM that hundreds of families living in the border villages have migrated to safer places but their farm land was being destroyed due to the presence of security forces. CM Mufti has said that her government has exhausted all steps at the administrative level to restore normalcy and now it was the Centre’s duty to start a political dialogue in order to bring peace. The Jammu and Kashmir Police is under fire from the locals who have alleged that they have been arresting youths indiscriminately in “nocturnal raids” and extorting money from their families in exchange of the boys’ release. The accusations find support from many political parties and law makers in J&K who have issued similar statements against the police. Opposition leader Omar Abdullah has said innocent boys were being kept in police lock-ups and some of them are being slapped with PSAs (Public Safety Act).
It is in place to mention that in the current three-month long unrest, over 20,000 people have been arrested including 16,000 youth, according to locals and human rights groups. According to them, 600 youths including minors have been slapped with PSA and have been lodged in jails outside J&K. As the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police arrest stone pelters, people are queuing up before the local media outlets with “evidence” and alleging unscrupulousness on part of the police.
“My son had gone to fetch vegetables and milk at Darbagh Harwan and a police Gypsy rounded him up along with his friends. Finally, through an SPO of our area I could get my son back after two days in the police lockup. I had to pay Rs 25,000,” said Muhammad Irfan Malik (named changed), a resident of Darbagh Harwan.
It is alleged that there is a nexus between the police, SHOs, and SPOs on the ground and the mainstream political activists who finally broker deals for the release of the youths. “The extortion by the police in the current unrest is fast turning into an industry,” alleged Muhammad Akbar Lone, former minister and senior leader of the NC. Human rights activists and civil society members have appealed to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to order a probe on alleged cases of police taking bribes.
“My son was arrested at Mehjoor Nagar when he was coming back home and remained in police detention for 10 days. I finally secured his release by paying Rs 60,000,” alleged Zahoor Ahmad (named changed), a resident of Budshah Nagar, Natipora, Srinagar.
A senior police officer incharge of Srinagar, when contacted by this newspaper, assured prompt action if any of the allegations are brought to his notice. “We have video footage of all the miscreants arrested by us and there is no room for police to release any of them on any pretext. I have received a few complaints and I will investigate them,” he said. Cooperation between India and Israel on the water front has been on the rise and Israel had partnered with India during the India Water Week held earlier this year. Israel is also India’s strategic partner in the field of agriculture and the two countries have together established the IndoIsrael Agricultural Project (IIAP) which led to establishing several centers of excellence for agriculture research and development. There are about 29 centers of excellence across nine states that have been working together to help farmers benefit from research on crop diversity, increased productivity and efficient use of resources.
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