Just weeks after taking up the role of  Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti has demanded the central government that they modify the militant repatriation policy and increase the number of entry points to India under it.

 

Mufti believes that the move will in turn ensure rehabilitation of all Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) based militants who want to return back to India and join the mainstream.

Unfortunately, CM Mufti’s demand has put the Centre in a bind.

Sources in the union home ministry said that many of the entry points that Mufti demanded for militants repatriation, have security implications.

Though Mufti’s demand has been referred by union home minister Rajnath Singh to the security agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), there is still a need for a comprehensive review.

At present, the Indian government formally recognize IGI international airport, Wagah-Attari border, Uri and Muzaffarabad as the only four valid entry points for POK based militants.

Unfortunately these four entry points hardly has any movement as there are obvious difficulties that one face from Pakistan side.

Looking at the above fact, many surrendering militants thus have returned via informal Nepal route which is comparatively safer.

Unfortunately, lately even this informal route via Nepal has come under the scrutiny of Pakistan and its espionage agency ISI is keeping a close eye on it.

The ministry source also said that moreover, return of militants has also become a trickle as a raw deal is handed over to them.

There are also reports about increasing number of attacks on women these days, which many alleged happens from both the security troops as well as the militants end in the Valley.

Looking at this, Mehbooba has thus proposed to raise two all women police battalions in the state of Kashmir which the Centre will fully fund.

Rather the first decision that she took was after becoming chief minister was to raise four all women police stations in the state and creation of 208 posts for the same.

At present there are just two women police stations that are are functional in the state and there are located at Srinagar and Jammu.

There are also four women cells in the state, located at Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri and Udhampur.