The Hindu : Officials to discuss 'panel' on release of J&K detenus

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

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Officials to discuss 'panel' on release of J&K detenus

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 9. Senior Home Ministry officials are to discuss the formation of a `joint screening committee' for the release of political prisoners and former militants with the Jammu and Kashmir Government. A team led by the Special Secretary (Jammu and Kashmir), Ashok Bhandari, is in Jammu today for meetings with the Chief Minister and State Government officials.

The issue of a `screening committee' has been a political football between the Centre and the PDP-Congress Government in the State since the latter took the decision to expedite the release of political prisoners and former militants. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, earlier this month raised a storm by saying that the State Government had released militants without consulting the Centre. The Congress responded by saying that Central intelligence agencies had okayed the decisions.

Mr. Advani had also said that the Centre had suggested setting up a screening committee and indicated that this had not been accepted by the J&K Government. During the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's visit here last week, senior State officials brushed aside the idea of a screening committee. They said it was not necessary since all releases followed the due process and were screened by the authorities concerned.

The decision to form a joint screening committee appears to be part of an effort to build bridges with the Centre. A screening committee has been in place in the State for some time, headed by the J&K Minister of State for Home and entirely comprising the State police and intelligence officials. The joint screening committee will be headed by the Commissioner, Home (Principle Secretary, Department of Home, Jammu and Kashmir). And, crucially, it will also include a member of the Central intelligence agencies, in all likelihood a Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau posted in the State.

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