SC admits PIL challenging grants to surrendering militants

New Delhi, Jan 25 (UNI) The Supreme Court today admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Society for Human Rights and Civil Liberties challenging the policy of the Jammu and Kashmir government to grant financial aid as well as monthly stipend to Kashmiri militants for laying down arms.

A Bench, comprising Justices G P Mathur and R V Raveendran, while admitting the petition said the issue raised in the petition was serious and required consideration at length.

According to the petitioner, the State government's initiative to give non-refundable loan of Rs 3,00,000 to surrendered militants along with a monthly stipend of Rs 3000 per month would send a wrong signal across the country and will encourage the youth to take up arms against the state which in turn would spread militancy to other parts of the country.

Fake surrenders are also being encouraged amounting to putting premium on terrorism and militancy, the petition added.

The petitioner also cited a New York Times report, saying that about 200 militant organisations are active in the Kashmir valley and 33 of them are directly under the supervision and control of Pakistan-based intelligence agency, the ISI, and the sole aim of these organisations is to establish an Islamic state in Jammu and Kashmir.

The petitioner also cited the Kandahar hijacking, where the dreaded militants like Masood Azhar and Omar Sheikh had to be released for safe return of the passengers onboard 1C814, who were held captive.

The petition also alleges that SIMI is opposed to the ideal worship and does not believe in religions like Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, among others, and that Osama bin Laden is their role model.

Surprisingly, the petition also alleges that LTTE is also working under the supervision of the ISI.

UNI