SRINAGAR: The governor, Girish Chandra Saxena, said here that the Center was prepared to discuss the quantum of autonomy in the proposed talks with Kashmiri militants.

In an interview with a foreign broadcasting corporation, Saxena said the Constitution was not rigid and could accommodate many genuine aspirations and demands of the people. “The quantum of autonomy can be discussed and many fears in the minds of the people can easily be removed”, he added.

Though the government earlier also offered to hold talks with the ‘militants, it is the first time any authority has precisely indicated what could be discussed at such talks.

However, the militants have al- ready rejected the idea of greater autonomy within the Union. They have, instead, suggested tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and Kashmir, with reference to the UN resolution on the disputed area.

PAK NOT EXCLUDED: When asked if Pakistan could be a party to the negotiations as demanded by the militants, the governor said “We do not exclude talks. With Pakistan which is a party to the dispute under the Shimla agreement.

 In response to a question, Saxena said there had been an escalation of militancy in Kashmir. He also admitted to lapses on the part of the security forces. He disclosed that the inquiry conducted into the killings at Khanyer, Srinagar, and five months ago, had established the guilt of the paramilitary personnel. They were guilty of excessive firing”, he said.

Meanwhile, an official spokesman said here Sunday that the stale government had taken a firm stand and “will not bend its knees before the militants holding 10 persons as hostages”.

A clear message has been sent to the militant organizations responsible or his kidnappings that the government will not countenance any release of imprisoned militants in exchange of the hostages”, the sources said when approached for their comments regarding talks between the government and the captors.

Expressing concern over the alarming increase in the abduction incident is in the Valley, the sources said the abduction of innocent persons was “a measure of the desperation” in the militant ranks.

The sources said the government had taken the stand in view of the past mistakes which would not be repeated.

It is possible that a price will have to be paid for such a tough stance, but it is necessary to send the categorical signal that the militants will gain nothing by persisting with their intimidation of innocent persons, the sources said.

The sources said that as result of no response from the government to the demands of the captors, they had extended the deadlines for meeting their demands.

 THREE KILLED: In violent incidents in the Valley, three persons were killed and six security men wounded while militants made abortive attempts to Blow up Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, and security pickets at General Post Office, State Bank of India and the deputy commissioner’s office Anantnag since Saturday night, official Sources Said here Sunday.

Twenty-nine suspected militants, eight of them trained in Pakistan, were captured from Badgam, Srinagar, Anantnag and kupwara.

The bodies of two persons, identified as Ghulam Ahmed and Abdul Salam Ahangar, were recovered from Safakadal area Saturday. One empty case of AK-47 was also recovered from the spot.

Another person, Manzoor Ahmed Wani, was killed in crossfire between militants and the security forces at Dora Saturday, the spokesman said.

Four security men were injured one of them seriously, when militants fired rockets at CRPF posts at GPO, SBI and DC’s office at Anantnag Sunday, the sources said.

 Meanwhile, Nazir Ahmed Siddiqui, a businessman turned mediator, who played key role in the release of Nahida Imtiaz, daughter of former National Conference MP, Saifuddin Soz, had been missing since Saturday.

 27 militants were killed in two separate’ encounters”, while militants clashed with the security forces at different places in Srinagar and made an abortive attempt to set ablaze abridge in the strife-tom Kashmir Valley in Kashmir on September 26.

The two encounters, in which 21 militants ‘were killed at one place and six at another, took place when militants were trying to Cross into India official sources said here on Thursday.

Twenty-one were killed and five arrested in the curfew-bound five km border bet in Kupwara sector Wednesday, they said.

Quoting a delayed report, the sources said six militants were killed in Titwal sector on Monday.

Shops and business establishments opened in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, and elsewhere in the valley Thursday after day’s strike, but the civil transport run by the Kashmir Motor Drivers? Association remained off the roads to protest against the arrested of association General Manager.Mohammad Yaqoob Ronga on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, there was no trace of nine abducted persons including former Stale Tourism Minister, Khemlata Wakloo her husband and seven others including the manager of a bank, K.C. Gupta.

The secessionist, Hizbul Mujahideen have owned the abduction of the Wakhloos and demanded the release of their chief and nine other militants in exchange of the couple.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 4, 1991