The Kashmir correction

In an attempt to push forward the peace process and send positive signals to the Hurriyat combine as it wraps up its second round of talks, ...

In an attempt to push forward the peace process and send positive signals to the Hurriyat combine as it wraps up its second round of talks, the Army has taken the initiative to firmly direct its formations in Jammu and Kashmir J038;K to keep civilians out during counter-insurgency CI operations. And has ordered action against its personnel in connection with a 8216;8216;custodial death.8217;8217;

Sources told The Sunday Express that after an 8216;8216;internal inquiry,8217;8217; into the February 8 Bandipora incident, it was found that the local Army unit followed 8216;8216;irregular procedures.8217;8217; Five civilian porters were killed during the fire-fight between security forces a Rashtriya Rifles unit and an Army battalion and Kashmiri militants in the hilly terrain of the Aragam forest.

The Army has also decided to transfer the Commanding officer and the company commander of the Rashtriya Rifles unit after reports that a local shopkeeper, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, died in their custody at Tral in south Kashmir on February 22.

Army records show that the porters were gunned down by militants 8212; three jawans were also killed 8212; and Ghulam Mir died of 8216;8216;heart failure8217;8217;. But senior Army commanders said in both cases, the security forces 8216;8216;exceeded8217;8217; their brief. In the Bandipora case, the porters were reportedly asked to search militant hideouts exposing them to grave risk. Mir is suspected to have been assaulted while in custody.

The Army has also directed its counter-insurgency formations that at least two policemen from the local station should accompany any unit conducting cordon and search operations. This step, the Army hopes, will prevent any 8216;8216;contrived8217;8217; human rights violations or provocation by hardline elements who want the dialogue process to fail.

These steps come at a time when the Mufti Sayeed government is under pressure over such incidents8212;both Bandipora and Tral fall in the PDP stronghold of South Kashmir. And the Centre has assured the Hurriyat that it means business when it says it will crack down on 8216;8216;human rights violations8217;8217; in the Valley. Sources said that given the low level of infiltration8212;the LoC fencing work is going full throttle8212;allegations of 8216;8216;human rights violations8217;8217; could be the new weapon for hardliners out to derail the peace process and the Centre-Hurriyat dialogue.