JAMMU: The Governor of Jagmohan and Kashmir, Mr. Jagmohan, has expressed the hope that the Kashmir migrants in Jammu and other places would be able to return to the valley by the first week of April.

In an interview Mr Jagmohan said that the newly appointed relief commissioner Mr. Abdul Khaliq Wani would contact the Muslim leaders in the Valley regarding the return of the Migrants mostly Hindus.

Mr. Jagmohan said that he “had no doubt” that the Muslim leaders would accept the responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of the Kashmiri Hindus. The Government would provide adequate security to them. Those who felt insecure would be provided accommodation in the camps to be set up in Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwar and Anantnag.

The Governor observed that the “tendency of large scale” migration has stopped for the past few days. He said that the relief commissioner will make efforts to prevent further migration from Kashmir and facilitate the return of the migrants to different places.

Mr. Jagmohan who visited the camps of the Kashmir migrants in Jammu city (about 18,000 families have registered in Jammu) ordered several measures for providing relief to the migrants and upgrading the facilities in the camps.

The governor ordered that the leave salary be paid to all government employees, who were living in the relief camps. An ad hoc relief of Rs 500 per family would be paid by March 31. Shops selling essential goods and dispensaries would be set up at every camp.

Regarding the law and order situation in the Valley, Mr. Jagmohan said no major incident had occurred for the past 13 days. The few incidents that occurred were restricted to Srinagar city. Curfew imposed on March 2, has been relaxed progressively since March 5.

However, Mr. Jagmohan admitted that the administration was cautious as the magnitude of provocation from internal and external elements was not small. The flags hoisted by the secessionist elements were removed and attempts to take out processions foiled.

The Government was considering ways to ensure the functioning of central government Offices in the Valley.

Crackdown

Despite attempts by militant’s mobiles the public, security forces could make inroads into some of the secessionist outfits. He said 120 persons were arrested for subversive activities.

The interrogation of Mustaq Ahmed Zarger, leader of the A Umar Mujahideen who was arrested at Udhampur last week and other supervises had provided vital clues, the Governor said. The recent achievements, though moderate, should be considerate against the earlier situation in the valley when the deputy commissioners of Srinagar and Anantnag declined to issue detention orders of Shabir Shah, People’s League leader.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 23, 1990