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Hurriyat threatens to pull out of talks
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 25
In a significant development, the Abbas-led Hurriyat Conference today threatened to pull out of the talks with the Centre in case the “ongoing human rights violations” in Kashmir were not stopped within a month.

Addressing mediapersons here, the APHC chairman, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, alleged that there was no improvement on the human rights front despite assurances from the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani. He referred to several recent incidents of excesses at the hands of security forces in support of his claim. Such incidents were continuing even after Mr Advani had asked the security forces to adopt a approach “people friendly” he claimed.

The APHC chairman referred to the latest incident of an alleged custodial killing in Naristan, Tral area of Pulwama district, where massive protest demonstrations were held on Monday. The Army has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The moulvi also referred to the killing of a civilian at Narabal, near here, by unidentified gunmen, which led to protests early last week.

‘’How can the dialogue with the Centre and custodial killings in Kashmir go together,’’ Moulvi Ansari said at the amalgam’s Rajbagh headquarters here.

‘’We may not participate in the second round of talks slated in March if the ground situation does not improve,’’ he added.

The moulvi said continuation of the talks will depend entirely on the response from the Centre. ‘’The Centre will be held responsible if we are forced to withdraw from the talks,’’ he said, adding that it was the duty of the government to clear all the hurdles.

‘’But there seems that they are not interested to see the issue resolved peacefully through dialogue...otherwise the security forces would have stopped atrocities in Kashmir,’’ he said.

Today’s development is regarded as significant as it may hamper the dialogue process. The separatist Hurriyat Conference held talks with Mr Advani in Delhi on January 22 last.

Moulvi Ansari’s fresh move may jeopardise the dialogue process initiated between the Hurriyat and the top Central leadership of the Central government.

Corps commander summoned

New Delhi, February 25
The Corps Commander of Kashmir-based 16 Corps Lt-General Nirbhay Singh is understood to have been summoned by the Army headquarters here following allegations of human rights violation in the state.

Informed sources said Lt-General Nirbhay Singh had been called here for a meeting by the Army chief General N.C. Vij. — PTI