'Amnesty for security forces under study'

By Sarabjit Pandher

CHANDIGARH, AUG. 19. The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, has said that the Government was contemplating steps to provide legal protection and relief to the personnel of the security forces facing prosecution for alleged excesses during anti- insurgency operations. But, he ruled out any amnesty for those arrested or foreign terrorists who desired to join the national mainstream.

At a function organised by the Hind Samachar Group of newspapers in Jalandhar on Sunday, Mr. Advani promised ``relief'' for security personnel facing prosecution in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. The function was organised to pay tributes to those who lost their lives during militancy in Punjab. The management of the newspaper group presented Rs. 5.45 crores for the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to rebuild Gujarat.

The Minister said the issue was being discussed with the Law Ministry to work out some special steps within the ambit of the Constitution and law. He also disclosed that the report sought by him on the matter was with him.

He lauded the role and sacrifices made by security forces while combating terrorism in Punjab, and expressed concern that some of the officers and personnel had threatened to return their gallantry decorations as they were being prosecuted for their role in anti-terrorist operations.

Regarding militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Advani said a comprehensive plan had been drawn in the post-Agra summit period, to achieve ``conclusive victory'' in the on-going proxy war as had been done in the previous full-fledged wars with Pakistan. He disclosed that he had participated in a meeting with the Defence Minister, to draw out the plan where the Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister, Governor and Police Chief, were also present.

The proxy war was being fought all over the country in the form of countering Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) insurgency operations. In the last three years, as many as 101 ISI nodules had been neutralised. He relied on his characteristic flourish to fault the Pakistan's President, General Pervez Musharraf, for the failure of the Agra summit.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, while reiterating his call for a decisive battle, said the people of Kashmir were now calling for a final assault to decide the issue.

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