New Delhi, March 2
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s recent announcement of a general amnesty for Kashmiri militants, the proposal extended to Sikh extremists too later, does not mean that pending cases against them would be closed automatically, well-placed sources have said.

The amnesty, said sources, would not be a walk-in for all, as those wanting to return would have to face cases pending against them in Indian courts. Senior police officials of Punjab, too, admit that there was no chance of allowing an accused into the mainstream without his having faced law of the land. Those who have no cases pending, however, may be eligible for a softer approach by the government.

In the past as well, surrender policies that applied to Kashmiri militants contained the same rider — those found innocent by courts were rehabilitated. An indication of this was clear during the recent foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan. A dossier of the Union Home ministry handed over to Pakistan contained the names of seven Pakistan-based Khalistan militants. This indicated the cases would continue, a source said.

The cases would go on against those who had been booked during the militancy period in Punjab — between 1979 and 1995. “How can the cases be closed? They will continue,” said a senior official, who has battled militancy in Punjab.

Sources said in-house assessment of the police says that it would be better if people on the “blacklist” were allowed entry into India. “It will be easier to keep a tab on them. Sitting abroad, they can easily channelise funds here and even misguide youth here with promises of getting them settled on foreign shores. Also, they will see first-hand the growth India has made,” sources added.

Chidambaram had announced that the government would be willing to take back misguided Sikh youth who renounced the demand for “Khalistan”. “I know there is a demand (from the Sikh youth). We will look into that,” he had said at a function in Delhi. The statement had raised several questions within Punjab police, which have been conveyed in a subtle manner to the people who matter in Delhi.