NEW DELHI: By releasing the IOC executive director Doraiswamy Aug. 20 the Kashmiri militants seem to have scored two points. They not only secured the release of their five jailed colleagues but have also converted their hostage into their vocal spokesman.

The problem of Kashmir cannot be solved at gun point. They are misguided youth victims of vicious propaganda from across the border. They are not bad people. No one listens to them. There is a communication gap between them and the government said a cheerful Doraiswamy on his arrival here Wednesday afternoon. He was flown in here in a special BSF aircraft from Srinagar following his release from a 54-day old captivity. He was accompanied by the minister of state for communication Rajesh Pilot and a senior IOC official.

He told reporters at Palam airport that he had conveyed his impression to the accompanying minister. He said meaningful contact with the militants should be made. When asked if he would like to mediate Doraiswamy said he was available for it.

CONSTANT SMILE: Soon after the aircraft landed at 1:40 p.m. he was taken to the airport’s VIP lounge. Reporters and photographers had a tough time making their way into the lounge thanks to 6tthe security staff. Doraiswamy IOC colleagues who had been waiting at the airport since 11 a.m could meet him only when he came out. Clad in a brown safari suit Doraiswamy looked far from tired. He wore a constant smile behind his bushy moustache. In fact reporters were pleasantly surprised to see a man who had faced a 54-day long ordeal in solitary confinement in fine spirits.

They were very nice. They treated me with respect and were polite and decent. They made me we are Kashmiri dress and supplied me regularly with local English daily The Kashmir Times They even read out Urdu papers to me. The food was nice and included milk and fruit Doraiswamy said.

Recalling his days in captivity he said he was not locked in any place but was always guarded by three militants. Doraiswamy however did not know where he was taken to. I do not know the geography of the place where I was kept.

Did he ever feel the militants would actually carry out their threat to kill him? I did not feel $0. Their interest was to keep me alive. Had they killed me they knew they would have lost their bargaining power Doraiswamy said: However on one or two Occasions he sensed danger. I felt there could be a danger to my life once or twice when the government stands toughened But all along I was hopeful.

MISGUIDED YOUTH: Doraiswamy said his interaction with the militants helped him understand their mind better He said they could be won back. Continued propaganda from across the border has misguided them. There is to understand their mind he added. They said they wanted ‘Azaadi’ (freedom). I explained to them that they were ‘azad (free).

Article extracted from this publication >> August 30, 1991