‘Kashmiri’ held with $71,000 in New Delhi

SRINAGAR : Indian army soldiers have been photographing male civilians in some parts of Kashmir to help them identify Muslim separatist militants, residents said Thursday.

In dozens of villages across Kashmir, army soldiers over the past few months have been conducting house-to-house surveys and photographing male members of every family.

“One, copy of the photograph is retained by the army, while the other is given to the family for proper preservation,” said Altaf Ahmed of Sanoor kalipora in central Kashmir district of Budgam.

“Each family is asked to pay Rs 15 for the photographs.” Besides taking photographs, the

soldiers record the men's names and professions. “Such an exercise helps in segregating militants from civilians,” said an army officer, requesting anonymity. “We conduct sudden and random raids on houses and if anyone else other than those photographed by us is present in the house he is questioned to establish his identity.” “The exercise is yielding guests at the nearest army good results,” he said, and camp claimed it was more effective in Kashmir's borders areas adjoining Pakistan .

Locals, however, criticize the army for allegedly harassing them and arresting visiting relatives.

“Last week one of my cousins visited us from Srinagar and he was arrested as a suspected militant. Even nomadic shepherds, who move into mountains with their herds during summer, were photographed, locals said.

“On our return from the mountains the army people make doubly sure that only those return who had gone up,” said Naimu-Dm Khan, who had driven his cattle to patrolling security forces,” said Sonamarg, closer to the Mushtaq Tantray of northern Kargil region where Indian

Pattan township. “It took us a week to establish that he was not a militant” Residents have been asked to register the names of their month stay.

(Kashmir Observer, October 27, 2000)