Fake surrender: Cong promises strict action

The Congress here today called for stern action against those who had allegedly stage-managed the surrender of 27 innocent persons by presen...

The Congress here today called for stern action against those who had allegedly stage-managed the surrender of 27 innocent persons by presenting them as militants in Jammu and Kashmir as was exposed by The Indian Express.

Congress spokesperson Girija Vyas avoided a pointed reply when asked what action the leadership proposed to take against those who had organised the ‘‘surrender’’.

She only said, ‘‘Whosoever they may be, whichever party they may belong to, stern action must be taken against them (the guilty).’’

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Meanwhile, AICC general secretary in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir Ambika Soni said that she was not familiar with the names of Congress party workers Bashir Ahmed Golu, Nazir Ahmed Bhatt and Mohammed Maqbool.

‘‘Our PCC president has been making the requisite inquiries. But it sounds a little incredible that such a thing could happen at the block level. It is a sanitised state. Someone who is behind such a fake surrender has to have greater authority.’’ She added: ‘‘I meet workers once in three months. But I am not familiar with the names. I would authoritatively say I am familiar with the names of our functionaries. I have a list of functionaries up to the general secretary,’’ she added.

On Bashir Ahmed, alias Golu, coming to Delhi and meeting her, the Congress leader said that she gets a host of visitors from Jammu and Kashmir.

‘‘At any point of time, you will find five to six unemployed youths. When we have talked of the healing touch, we have to reach out. I don’t recall him (Golu),’’ she said.

MoD silent on issue

		NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry has remained silent on the fake surrender in J-K. While the Army Headquarters has so far refrained from commenting on possible action, the Army’s Northern Command chief today ruled out an Army probe into the incident, saying it does not have the wherewithal to verify the antecedents of those who surrender voluntarily. Though the Defence Ministry did not reply to a questionnaire sent by The Sunday Express asking if the MoD had set up an inquiry, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has indicated that he would comment on the matter at an ‘‘appropriate time’’. — ENS

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