Govt rules out revival of ''Ikhwanis'' to take on militants

Srinagar, May 24

Jammu and Kashmir Government today ruled out revival of "ikhwanis" or outfit of reformed militants in the state saying it was illegal and unconstitutional.

"The revival of the dark era of Ikhwanis is not possible as such practices were not only illegal and unconstitutional, but unethical as well. Whosoever is dishing out such absurd views, is grossly ignorant about both the ground realities in Kashmir and the law," Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said here.

His remarks came as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's recent statement that "terrorists have to be neutralised only through terrorists" has sparked a fresh debate on the issue.

Akhtar said in a landmark judgement on the issue of Salwa Judam, the government sponsored gunmen used by Chhattisgarh government against Maoists, the Supreme Court had in April 2008 declared all such activities illegal and unconstitutional.

He said the Supreme Court has, in its judgement, made it clear that arms cannot be given to a civilian to kill and "anybody doing so will be an abettor of the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code."

"So if somebody has made any statement on the issue, he must be completely ignorant about the law," Akhtar, a senior PDP leader, said.

He said PDP has earned its credibility among the masses by stopping such practices.

"Everybody knows how in 2002, the PDP-led coalition government not only ended the infamous Ikhwan culture in Kashmir, but also wound up the dreaded Task Force (special Operations Group of state police) and the people in every nook and corner of the state, at that time, acknowledged the substantial relief on the security front," he said. — PTI