[Reader-list] Return to Kashmir, J&K minister urges migrants

[Pawan Durani]

http://newsblaze.com/story/20080119070258kash.nb/newsblaze/KASHMIR1/Kashmir.html
Security of Kashmir CM, pro-Indian Leaders Beefed Up

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Jan 19: Amidst intelligence inputs that pro-Pakistan based
militant group, Lashkar-e-Toiba is planning to target the chief minister of
Kashmir and other pro-Indian leaders in the region, the security grid has
been beefed up. In addition, sweeping changes were made in the existing
security arrangements of the chief minister and pro-Indian leaders.

Police commandos, who are providing security to the chief minister, Ghulam
Nabi Azad and one of the pro-Indian leaders and Indian parliamentarian, Omar
Abdullah have been directed by the security agencies to undergo more
rigorous training to combat the militant attack. "They have been directed to
get trained under India's elite National Security Guard (NSG), which
provides security cover to India's top most politicians", sources said.

Also, the police commandos guarding the Kashmir chief minister have been
replaced with a new team, who have undergone more specialized training.
"This is being done to minimize the militant chances of infiltrating into
the inner circle of chief minister's security", police sources said.

Sources said that the police commandos providing security to the chief
minister and pro-Indian leaders in Kashmir are under the scanner of security
agencies. "There activities are being closely monitored by the agencies and
tight vigil is maintained on them", sources said, adding, "This is being
done to prevent militants from wooing the police commandos to help them
infiltrate into the inner security circle".

The security measures have been intensified after the intelligence agencies
received inputs that the Lashkar militants were planning to target Kashmir
chief minister and main pro-Indian leader in region, Omar Abdullah.

*Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.*

On 1/17/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् <mail at shivamvij.com> wrote:
>
> Return to Kashmir, J&K minister urges migrants
>
>
> Express news service
> Posted online: Thursday , January 17, 2008 at 11:44:34
> Updated: Thursday , January 17, 2008 at 12:00:04
>
> http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Return-to-Kashmir-JK-minister-urges-migrants/262268/
>
>
> Pune, January 16 With around 500 Kashmiri migrants making Pune their
> home during the winter months every year, their presence has become a
> source of concern not only for some groups in Pune, but for the
> Kashmiri Government.
>
> Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir
> Minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir said that the government was now urging
> these migrants to return to Kashmir and work there instead of
> "spoiling the atmosphere of Pune."
>
> Drawn by the safe and congenial atmosphere in the city, they come to
> Pune and settled down mainly at Kalewadi. "These migrants receive a
> lot of support from NGOs and other groups here. But since they come
> here every year, we had complained to both the Maharashtra and J&K
> governments some two years ago requesting a permanent solution," said
> Sanjay Nahar, founder of Sarhad, an NGO working for welfare of
> abandoned Kashmiri children.
>
> Explaining the reasons behind their complaint, Nahar said that since
> the migrants were financially needy, they could easily be lured by
> money and exploited for aiding terrorist activity. "This poses a
> threat to them, since they will automatically be blamed for any
> violence or terrorism in the city, and will create problems for their
> security. The safe image of Pune will also be ruined," he said.
>
> Nahar said the Kashmiri government was keen to investigate the reasons
> for this vast influx of migrants into the city, and how a solution can
> be found. "Recently Inspector General of Police from J&K Javid
> Mukhdoomi also visited Kalewadi and wrote a report on this seasonal
> migration of Kashmiri Muslims," said Nahar. Mir, who is the minister
> for Public Health Engineering, Irrigation, Flood Control, and
> Horticulture is also in the city to meet the migrants and study their
> situation.
>
> Mir said that complaints had been received that the migrants were
> begging for money, food, and so on. "We spoke to them and asked them
> their reasons for coming here and whether they felt threatened in
> Kashmir. They said that they are not forced by anyone to come here. So
> we have told them that they should return to their state and take up
> employment there instead of spoiling the atmosphere in Pune, which has
> always been good to Kashmiri migrants and students," said Mir.
>
> Mir said that the J&K government was also trying to encourage Kashmiri
> Hindus to return to their home state. "Many Kashmiri Pandits were
> forced to leave their birthplace because of militancy. But now the
> situation has become normal, and they should return to where they
> belong with full honour and dignity," said Mir, adding that thousands
> of Pandits had visited their home towns during the Kheer Bhawani
> Tulbula festival, and had received a warm welcome.
>
> Referring to military intelligence reports that infiltration in
> Kashmir was on the rise, Mir said, "We do not want to question the
> reports, but we are government officials working at the ground level
> in Kashmir, and I can see that the situation is improving," he said,
> adding that the government was also encouraging film shootings and
> tourist visits to the state.
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