Current Kashmir turmoil instigated, funded: Intelligence report - NorthLines Leading Newspaper Jammu Kashmir
Current Kashmir turmoil instigated, funded: Intelligence report
7/9/2010 1:03:46 AM
Srinagar, July 08: Giving credence to the common observation, sources in the Union Home Ministry have given proof that the current turmoil in Kashmir is being not only instigated, but also planned and funded from across the border, by the Laskar-e-Tayyeba in collusion with hardliner separatists.
Intelligence agencies have intercepted conversations between one Ghulam Ahmed Dar and Shabir Wani which clearly shows that the stone-pelting and other disturbances are being funded by external elements in collision with the separatists.
A large procession had started in Budgam district on the outskirts of Srinagar in the evening and two senior office-bearers of the Pro-Islamist Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani discussed how to utilise it to create casualties, according to the transcript of the conversation available with the Home Ministry.
According to the transcript, one of the office- bearers, Ghulam Ahmed Dar, was heard telling Shabir Ahmed Wani, another office-bearer, that a procession of nearly 20,000 people had started from Magam and was going towards Budgam.
Wani tells Dar, "You guys enjoy payments sitting at home and do nothing."
Dar, in his response, says, "The management of crowd becomes difficult later.....it gets difficult to manage the mob later."
Dar then ends up by saying, "at least 15 people should be martyred today."
The sources say there is recognition of genuine protest and anger in the Valley, but add that "mischief makers" are taking advantage of that anger.
J&K CM Omar Abdullah had said last week that the government has taped conversations between separatists, handlers from across LoC and stone-pelters. He said they have also tracked movement of money for these leaders.
The sources in the Home Ministry said the government was keeping a close watch on the situation and was of the opinion that the violence is occurring to derail the freshly started peace process between India and Pakistan.
The opposition had also sounded alert for the government about the problem being fomented by LeT and other militant groups.
"Pakistan is involved in stone-pelting. Stones are brought in trucks with each truckload costing Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200. Boys are paid Rs 500 each for pelting stones. This is a low cost, high impact strategy being used by terrorist groups whose middle level leadership was liquidated by forces," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar had said on July 1.
Even the Union Home Minister had said in a press conference that LeT could be involved the Valley's new trouble.
Army has now been deployed in parts of the state after the govt requested the same.
Shocking details
Separatist groups especially those owing allegiance to Pakistan-terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashker-e-Taiba are alleged to have formed several groups comprising a minimum of dozen people, sources in the interrogation team said.
This was revealed during extensive interrogation of a stone pelter arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police in Februray.
These groups are paid a hefty amount ranging between Rs5 to Rs8 lakh, they said, adding a part of this money is handed over to another group known as "initiators" who pick up stones and start pelting on police and para-military forces -- sometimes on trivial issues.
The groups, which are alleged to have been receiving funds from a political party as well, have stationed their people in various localities and other districts of the Valley, the sources said. This could be the reason for stone pelting incidents occurring in a synchronized manner throughout the valley during agitations and protests, they said.
Adding to the woes of policemen were protestors making use of stones and building material kept by government agencies on roads for construction activities, the sources said.