Centre revokes Ceasefire in Kashmir

CI-Ops to resume, says Rajnath; Dismay in Valley's pol circles

JAMMU: The suspense over the fate of 31-day long unilateral suspension of Counter-Insurgency operations by security forces in the state ended today as the Centre called off the 'Ramazan Ceasefire' and directed the security forces to take "all necessary action" at the earliest to prevent terrorists from launching attacks and indulging in violence.

The move was expected as terrorist activities continued even during the holy Islamic month claiming as many as 39 lives, and leaving 101 people injured in 74 terror-related and terror-instigated incidents during the past 31 days.

"Security forces are being directed to take all necessary actions as earlier to prevent terrorists from launching attacks and indulging in violence and killings," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in a statement but made it clear that the government will continue with its endeavour to create an environment free of terror and violence in the state.

"It is important that all sections of peace loving people come together to isolate the terrorists and motivate those who have been misguided to return to the path of peace," he said.

The Centre had announced suspension of operations on May 16-- a day before the beginning of the holy month and had said the decision was being taken in the interests of the peace loving people of the state, in order to provide them a conducive atmosphere during the fasting month.

On Friday, the last day of Ramazan, Prime Minister had held a meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the security situation in the state and to review the suspension of operations during the holy month of Ramzan, following which the MHA made the announcement today, a day after Eid ul Fitr festivities.

In his statement, Rajnath Singh commended the role of security forces for having implemented the decision in letter and spirit in the face of grave provocation, to enable the Muslim brothers and sisters to observe Ramazan in a peaceful manner.

"This has been widely appreciated by the people all over the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, and has brought relief to the common citizens," he said, adding it was expected that everyone will cooperate in ensuring the success of this initiative.

"While the Security Forces have displayed exemplary restraint during this period, the terrorists have continued with their attacks, on civilians and Security Forces, resulting in deaths and injuries," he said.

According to officials, there were 18 incidents of terror between April 17 to May 17 this year and the figure rose to above 70 during the suspension of operations.

The suspension of operations saw brutal killings especially on the second last day of Ramazan which included that of an army soldier by terrorists, attacks on civilians propagating moderate approach and finally gunning down of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was a strong voice of peace, they said.

In the 31-day long period spanning from 17 May 2018 to 16 June 2018, there were at least 74 terror incidents in Kashmir, in which 37 people including 7 civilians, 9 security forces' personnel and 23 terrorists were killed. As many as 101 people including 58 civilians have been injured in this period.

The security agencies had also alerted the government about designs by certain terror groups to disrupt the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra beginning June 28 and the need for conducting some operations in South Kashmir.

Hours after the announcement, Inspector General (IG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Ravideep Sahi said, "We will implement every order that will be given to us. We would like to tell everyone that the security forces are on alert."

Meanwhile, barring BJP, the political parties today described as "disappointing" the Centre's announcement and blamed the Centre and the state government for not making it effective.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman Rafi Ahmad Mir said the party was not happy with the decision announced by the Union Home Ministry in view of the unending violence during Ramadan, blamed mostly on militants.

He was joined by PDP general secretary Peerzada Mansoor who said while the party was also disappointed, there was very little it could do as peace is a two-way traffic.

"Peace is a two-way traffic, it is not one way. We tried everything from our side. Is there any CBM (confidence building measure) which we or Mehbooba did not work on? Stone-pelters were given amnesty, their cases, in thousands, were revoked, even those who were booked in 2010 by the then NC government.

"There was a dialogue process. Even Union Home Minister mentioned talks with Hurriyat by taking their name. What else could we have done?,"Mansoor told.

"You can lead a horse to the water, but you cannot make it drink. Ceasefire happened after many years. Last time it happened, the government was opposed to that. We called for an all-party meet this time where there was a consensus. Then Mehbooba initiated it, we are grateful that the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) honoured it. Then (Union) Home Minister announced it.

"You saw how death and destruction stopped in the Ramadhan except for one boy who came under a forces vehicle. People had a sigh of relief. You travel to Pulwama or Shopian and see. But, see the situation in the last few days. What happened to Bukhari. How he was mercilessly killed. What can we do?" he said.

Mansoor said the situation in the valley had left the ruling party with no choice. Criticising the separatists for setting pre-conditions for talks, the PDP leader said engagement is in the interest of Kashmir and its people.

"... They (separatists) could also have constituted a team. If the Centre has constituted a team (special representative Dineshwar Sharma), let them (separatists) also form a team, but there should be engagement so that people are saved from death and destruction. What can we do, where will we go. Kashmir is burning because of these things," he said.

"We have not lost all hope. We are hopeful that a better sense will prevail. Let them tell us what Mehbooba should do, we are ready to do that," he said.

Main opposition National Conference said that it is disappointing but not entirely (an) unexpected development.

NC's spokesperson Junaid Mattu said the Central government should have done some necessary back channel work for the ceasefire to be effective.

The decision to announce the ceasefire was welcomed by us and we had expected that the decision would have been taken after due application of mind and with the necessary back channel work.

"That turned out not to be the case and the recent developments including the tragic assassination of (veteran journalist and editor 'Rising Kashmir') Shujaat Bukhari made this decision inevitable, he said.

The NC spokesperson said the failure of the Centre's unilateral ceasefire was the collective failure of the state and the central government and a loss for all those who believe in peaceful resolution to "Kashmir's political issue".

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir said the BJP-led government at the centre did not have any clear policy or roadmap on Kashmir.

He said the while all the mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir pitched for a ceasefire in Kashmir in the holy month of Ramadhan, the Centre's decision to revoke it has been taken unilaterally.

The JKPCC president asked chief minister Mehbooba Mufti to come clean on the decision.

Mir said the effect of the Centre's direction to the security forces to resume operations against the militants, will show in a few days' time as to which level the situation will head to.

How the situation plays now, the responsibility of that will lie on the Central government as well as Mehbooba, the Congress leader said.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah took a dig at some state BJP leaders who were upbeat about the calling off of the unilateral ceasefire. In his tweet, Omar wrote it was "the Centre's initiative and yet these people are celebrating its failure as if it had been announced by our enemies.

"It's failure is the failure of everyone who wanted to give peace a chance," he said.

CPM leader and MLA Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami termed it as an opportunity lost and regretted that the centre had to call off the unilateral ceasefire.

"I know the grave risks involved in announcing such a decision ahead of Ramzan and would have hoped for some more confidence building measures for creating a viable environment for political dialogue," he said.