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BJP president rejects PDP’s demand of engaging all ‘stakeholders’

Jammu: A day after the Central government told the Supreme Court that it will not hold talks with separatist leaders in the Kashmir valley, BJP president Amit Shah today directed party leaders to single out anti-India and separatist elements to bring normalcy back in the Valley. He made it clear to the party leaders that Centre’s stand in the Supreme Court was also the viewpoint of the BJP on Jammu and Kashmir.By endorsing the Centre’s stand, the BJP president has given a clear message to its coalition partner — PDP — that his party was not going to climb down on its position of not engaging in talks with separatists or “pro-azadi” groups of Kashmir.Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told Supreme Court on Friday, “We will talk to only those persons who are legally permitted to hold talks on behalf of people of Kashmir. The government is willing to talk to only recognised political parties in the state.”Shah’s statement assumes importance as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on April 24 had strongly advocated engaging all “stakeholders,” including separatist groups, in the dialogue process to restore normalcy in Kashmir. Mehbooba had reiterated the demand while briefing the PDP’s political affairs committee (PAC) in Srinagar on Monday about her meeting with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.Shah, who reached Jammu this morning on a two-day visit to the state in connection with “Vistar Yatra” of BJP, told party leaders that the Centre and the BJP high command were concerned about the situation in Kashmir.In a two-hour-long closed-door meeting of party ministers and MLAs, Shah made it clear there was no question of compromising on the core ideology of the party. “The nation, not the government, is priority of the BJP,” Shah reportedly told the party legislators, with a clear message that the party would not hesitate to make any sacrifice for the nation.He directed all party ministers and MLAs not to confine themselves to their respective constituencies and communities but to visit the Valley and reach out to the people there.“The BJP president made it clear that there was no question of talks with separatist or extremist groups of the Valley,” a BJP legislator told The Tribune on the condition of anonymity. He said Shah’s speech was clear that those fomenting trouble or demanding “azadi” would not be involved in any dialogue process.Later, addressing a meeting of prominent citizens, Shah threw light on the history of the BJP and importance of J&K in the party’s ideology.

Tribune News

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India said that to bring normalcy in Kashmir Valley it is essential that the civilians, especially the school and college going students should first stop hurling stones at the security forces.

The court said the students must return back to their colleges and schools.

Hearing a petition filed by the Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association, the apex court bench comprising chief justice J.S. Khehar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul asked the Bar to persuade the stakeholders in the Valley to file an undertaking that they would give up violence.

The Bar Association countered that security forces entered schools and universities and beat up students. “If they beat up the students, students will be on the streets. Throwing of stones is a reaction. The Centre has stopped talking to the people of Kashmir. The people want uninterrupted, unconditional and sincere dialogue,” the Bar’s counsel submitted.

The court asked stakeholders in Kashmir to “take two steps back” as a resolution could be initiated only if there is no violence and pellets fired by the security forces.

But as the “first step forward”, the court insisted, the Bar Association, the petitioner in the case, should persuade these stakeholders to file undertakings in the court that they will abstain from violence.

“Both sides need to take two steps back and address core issues. You cannot clap without both hands,” Justice Kaul observed.

Reportedly, the court said that once the undertaking is filed, tentatively on May 9, it would ask the central government to pull back security forces for at least 15 days.

The court said that a stage for talks between stakeholders and influential public voices in Kashmir and the Centre could be set only in the absence of violence.

Replying to this suggestion by the court, the Bar Council said they have little influence over the stakeholders in the Valley. However, the Justice Chandrachud made it plain that having come to the court in the role of an interlocutor, they cannot now back out.

It bears mention that Kashmir Bar Association had filed an appeal against the High Court order seeking stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed and hundreds blinded by the ‘non lethal’ gun in Kashmir.

During the last hearing on April 10, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it was exploring a crowd control option that is akin to rubber bullets but not as lethal as pellet guns that are being used currently as a last resort to quell violence in the Valley.

Kashmir High Court had on September 22 rejected the plea seeking a ban on use of pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee of Experts through its memorandum of July 26, 2016 for exploring alternatives to pellet guns.

The SC had on April 10 posed questions to the Bar asking it to suggest measures to deal with violent agitators who often attack security forces and damage public and private property.

“You are neither on this side (state) nor that side (agitators). You are the Bar Association of the state. If you don’t take side, you can really suggest a solution,” the Bench had on April 10 asked senior counsel Zafar Shah and Miya Abdul Qayum, who represented the petitioner association.

“We are at a very crucial juncture of history. The country’s bar has always played a crucial role in times of crises,” the Bench reminded the senior advocates.

Srinagar: The intermittent rains since the wee hours of Saturday morning lashed Valley while the South Kashmir’s Pahalgam area received a fresh snowfall.
An official in the Meteorological (MeT) department told KNS, “There is possibility of light to moderate rains or snow at most of the places over the state in next 24 hours.”
He said that the weather would continue to remain wet in the next upcoming days. “There would be occasional sunshine during the next few days,” he added.
The official informed KNS that besides the rainfall at most of the places over the state today, the South Kashmir’s Pahalgam area has received a fresh snowfall.
“6.8 cm of snow was recorded in Pahalgam till 05 pm,” he informed.
Meanwhile, the intermittent rains since the wee hours of this morning have resulted in the inundation of the City areas.
The residents at various areas including Khanyar, Baba Demb and others informed KNS that the main as well as the interior roads in the areas are inundated with the muddy water thereby resulted in the sufferings to the locals. (KNS)

Srinagar: Mobile internet services were on Saturday restored in Kashmir, two weeks after they were suspended in view of widespread student protests in the Valley against alleged highhandedness of security forces at a college in Pulwama on April 15.Restrictions placed on accessing internet on mobile phones on April 17 have been lifted four days after the state government directed the internet service providers not to allow access to 22 websites and applications, observing they were being misused by anti-national elements to disturb peace in Kashmir.Although the order to block access to the 22 websites was issued on Tuesday, it took the service providers four days to successfully ban them.However, one can gain access to them through broadband services of state-run telecom operator BSNL and through virtual private networks.The websites and applications which have been made inaccessible in the Valley include Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Wechat, QQ, Qzone, Google Plus, Skype, Line, Pinterest, Snapchat, Youtube, Vine and Flickr.The state home department had banned them on the grounds that they were being misused by anti-national and anti-social elements for transmitting inflammatory messages.Principal Secretary Home Department R K Goyal had invoked the powers conferred on government under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2007 to ban them.In a three-page order, he had said: “It is being felt that continued misuse of social networking sites and instant messaging services is likely to be detrimental to the interests of peace and tranquillity in the state.”The move had followed repeated student protests in Kashmir, which the authorities believed were fanned through social media.Some days ago, a police official had said that 350 WhatsApp groups were being used to spread rumours in Kashmir and the government had cracked down, shutting 90 per cent of these groups. — PTI 

A year ago all that the people saw was a quick handshake but away from TV cameras Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif held an hour-long secret meeting on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Kathmandu.

A year ago all that the people saw was a quick handshake but away from TV cameras Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif held an hour-long secret meeting on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Kathmandu.

Both the leaders shared their constraints while agreeing they needed more time and greater political space to move forward with public engagements. The meeting was facilitated by Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal, who is the brother of former Congress MP Naveen Jindal.

These revelations have been made by well-known television journalist Barkha Dutt in her debut book, This Unquiet Land — Stories from India’s Fault Lines. HT has exclusive access to the book, which is published by Aleph Books Company and will hit the stores on Wednesday.

Unknown to the media and certainly the public, both Modi and Sharif had found someone to “keep them connected even when things got difficult”, Dutt writes, describing Jindal as an informal messenger serving as a “covert bridge” between the two leaders.

Despite repeated attempts, Jindal did not return HT’s calls or messages. Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup, too, did not comment.

During their first meeting when Sharif came to Delhi for Modi’s swearing-in — the two PMs decided to keep the reins of the relationship in their hands.

“However, they agreed that it could be useful to talk informally through a mutual acquaintance they both felt comfortable with.

The acquaintance was Jindal, who hosted a tea party for Sharif after his meeting with Modi in Delhi. When Dutt went to meet the Pakistani leader at the Capital’s Taj Mansingh hotel, she saw Jindal escort Sharif’s son Hussain for lunch.

“It was no secret that Indian steelmakers, both state and private players, were looking to foster friendly relations with Pakistan; they needed this to happen so they could ferry iron ore from Afghanistan by road across Pakistan from where it could be shipped to ports in western and southern India,” Dutt writes. But, Jindal’s ties with Sharif, she says, appeared to have gone beyond that of a businessman with the head of a government – and the two had become “confidantes”.

The proximity was at play in Kathmandu, where the Saarc summit was held on November 26 and 27. Modi called up Jindal from Nepal and asked him to take the earliest flight to the Nepali capital. “Jindal was asked to discreetly reach out to his ‘friend’ across the border,” writes Dutt. The two leaders then met quietly “in the privacy of Jindal’s hotel room”, where they spent an hour together.

Modi – hinting at the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections – indicated while he was keen, “circumstances” did not permit him to reopen formal channels. Sharif spoke about “constrictions” imposed on him by the security establishment and how his “negotiating power with the army had been gradually whittled away”.

“This under-the radar encounter paved the way for Modi to openly reach out to Sharif two months later through a phone call that was positioned as an innocuous good-luck call for the World Cup,” Dutt writes.

Her account reinforces a well-known fact — domestic politics often determines the course of the fragile bilateral relationship.

Dutt’s own assessment of Jindal’s role is that it did not involve negotiating “tricky matters of geo-politics”. “He was more like a covert bridge that connected them if either wanted to reach out to the other side sans protocol or publicity.” And, because Jindal’s role was off the record, it came with plausible deniability.

Dutt’s book is a personalised account that paints a broad canvas drawing from her journalistic experience. The place of women in India, Kargil war, Mumbai terror attack, Kashmir, national politics and its lead players and a society in flux – it covers it all.

Srinagar: Notwithstanding a ban imposed on them by Jammu and Kashmir Government, all the 22 social networking sites and applications including Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter were accessible in many parts of Kashmir on Thursday.

Internet users could access the banned sites and applications using broadband connections or 2G network on their mobile phones.

“I will check with higher authorities about the issue,” BSNL Public Relations Officer Masood Bala said when asked as to how these banned sites were still accessible.

Officials from private telecom companies said on condition of anonymity that they have informed the state government that they were unable to block these sites. Many users of these applications were able to access these sites through virtual private network (VPN).

A significant number of Facebook users, hailing from areas where these sites could not be accessed from regular networks, posted messages about how to use VPN to bypass the social media curbs.

The state home department stopped transmission of the 22 sites and applications on the grounds that these were being misused by “anti-national and anti-social elements for spreading inflammatory messages.”

“In the interest of maintenance of public order, the government hereby directs all internet service providers that any message or class of messages… Shall not be transmitted in Kashmir with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders,  whichever is earlier,” Principal Secretary Home Department R K Goyal had said in the three-page order.

The sites and applications which were to be blocked include Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Wechat, QQ, Qzone, Google Plus, Skype, Line, Pinterest, Snapchat, Youtube (only upload), Vine and Flickr. 

Goyal invoked the powers conferred on government under Indian Telegraph Act 1885 read with Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules 2007 to ban these sites and applications.

Mobile internet services were suspended in Kashmir on April 17 following widespread student protests in Kashmir. (PTI)

I had heard about his name during my school years but never had dreamed of meeting him in person

Legends never die nor do their ideology and philosophy perish. This saying perfectly comes true for legendary leader of Kashmiris, JKLF founder Aman ullah Khan who left for heavenly abode last year leaving behind his everlasting footprints that will guide us through the tough journey ahead. I had heard about his name during my school years but never had dreamed of meeting him in person that is why when I accompanying my friend Shaheed Ishafq Majeed saw him, first time in my life at Doctor Farooq Haider’s residence at Rawalpindi, my soul flew high and I felt like achieving some huge award. After all he was my childhood hero and meeting ones hero is always a special feeling. A frail man, always well dressed, passionate to listen about Srinagar and fervent about the independence of his land Aman shaib was always seen working, till late night. He and his type writer were always busy. Aman Ullah Khan was born in Astore Gilgit on 24th August 1934, the year when the first state assembly with some elected members was introduced three years after the initiation of the popular politics and two years after formation of first political party of the state. His father Jumma Khan, a Revenue Department employee died when Amanulah Khan was only 3. Subsequently Aman was sent to his sister in Handwara region of the state where Amanullah Khan completed his matriculation with top grades. In 1952 after completing first year at SP College Srinagar he had to move to Pakistan via Sialkot because of his political beliefs. Here as recorded in his biography he sought admission at Garden College Rawalpindi but was refused on the grounds that Kashmir University was not recognized here. He then managed to get admission in Edwards College Peshawar. However, resulting from a dispute with the Vice Principal he was expelled from College and ended up to Karachi. As he once told me that his early years in Karachi were very hard so much so that he had to sleep on footpath for six months but his determination and continuous hard work never faded down and his consistency  bore fruits and by 1956-57 he had succeeded in establishing two private schools which flourished within a few years and by 1962 he was not only financially self-sufficient but also able to do some social work and to spare time and money for his practical participation in freedom movement of Kashmir again. He worked and studied and completed graduation in Law from SM Law College. However instead practicing law he set up a private school that remained the main sources of his income for life. Amanullah Khan had started taking part in freedom movement in 1947 when he was still a school boy in Indian held Kashmir. But a clear ideology of independent Kashmir developed in his mind as a result of his study of the history of Kashmir, of Kashmir Issue, of the contemporary and past freedom movements the world-over especially of Aljazeera and Palestine, and of the mal-treatment Kashmir, Kashmiris and Kashmir Issue had received since 1947. All this resulted in his becoming a staunch exponent of reunification and complete independence of Jammu Kashmir State. In 1962 Amanullah Khan, when he was still a student of LL.B., started monthly the “Voice of Kashmir” which strongly preached the ideology of independent Kashmir. Before its closure under government pressure several years later, he had spent on the magazine most of what he had earned from his schools. He re-started the magazine in England in 1976 and continued projection of his independence ideology for several years. Its editorials and articles preached independence of Kashmir directly as well as indirectly. He along with late Advocate Abdul Khaliq Ansari, G.M. Lone, the then a member of Azad Kashmir State Council, Mir Abdul Qayum and Mir Abdul Manan , Pir Ghulam Mustafa Alvi and others played key role in establishing Kashmir Independence Committee in 1963, the first pro-independence Kashmiri organization and worked as its first de-facto secretary before it was de-organized couple of years later for many reasons. as co-founder and Secretary General of Jammu Kashmir Plebiscite Front (for Azad Kashmir and Pakistan) formed in April 1965 and of is two wings JKNLF and Kashmir Committee for Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity, Amanullah Khan and JKPF contributed a lot through literature, rallies, press conferences, demonstrations etc. towards projection and expansion of independence ideology up to 1977. Plebiscite Front was launched in April 1965 he was elected its general secretary with Abdul Khaliq Ansari as president, Muhammad Mabqool Bhatt as publicity secretary. However, when the proposal to set up an armed wing of the PF presented by him and Maqbool Bhatt could not win the majority they formed the Jammu and Kashmir National Liberation Front on 13th August 1966. From this date onwards he and Maqbool Bhatt along with Major Amanullah Khan and others focused more on the armed struggle and Amanullah Khan produced some literature including the famous booklet Al-fatah and NLF. When the NLF was cracked down upon, Amanulah Khan along with Abdul Khaliq Ansari came to Britain while as to break the shackles of infamous Indra Abdullah accord of 1975 in which sheikh Abdullah preferred power over national dignity, Muhammad Maqbool Bhatt crossed back to the IOK in 1976. As two very close friends for almost 24 years, and two of the co-founders of Jammu Kashmir Plebiscite Front (JKPF) and Jammu Kashmir National Liberation Front (JKNLF), Shaheed-Baba-I-Quom Maqbool Butt and Amanullah Khan played a pivotal role in promoting the ideology for reunification and complete independence of Jammu Kashmir State as it stood on August 14, 1947 and of the concept of armed freedom struggle for Kashmir. Maqbool Butt was sent to gallows by India after keeping him behind the bars for over 10 years whereas he remained in Pakistani prisons for over two years. In both cases his ‘crime’ was his struggle for his national emancipation. If one only evaluates the literary contributions of Aman sahib vis-à-vis these simply stands above all. Amanullah Khan has written, in both Urdu and English, about different aspects of Kashmir Issue, three books, over 60 booklets, brochures and pamphlets, over 100 leaflets, over 100 articles (most of them published in leading newspapers and periodicals of India, Pakistan, Kashmir, Europe, USA and of Arab countries) and has been interviewed by the print and electronic, national and international media on different aspects of Kashmir Issue and independence ideology.

 In my view one thing nobody can deny about Aman Ullah Khan is his consistency and dedication towards the cause of freedom. He was an all-rounder. An un-parallel organizer, a prolific writer, a smart teacher, a fiery speaker, an ideologue, a loving husband, a caring father, a reliable friend, a wise old guard who knew how to connect with new generations, a unshakable revolutionary who wanted to pass on his legacy with pride, an intellectual and writer whose pen never got tired and who expressed his views and ideology without any fear or bias, a warrior who during his life time led thousands of Kashmiris and tried to trample cease fire line dividing Kashmir. A fearless personality whose shook the conscience of the international community by entering into UN general assembly hall at New York asking justice for Kashmir? He remains the only one to do so and today when I visualize a number of JKLF activities and ventures conceived, planned and their execution supervised by Mr. Amanullah Khan gave instant projection to Kashmiris’ cause on national and international level. For instance, the historic protest demonstration held for about 20 minutes by JKLF activists one by one inside UN General Assembly Hall New York (visitors’ gallery) and throwing of thousands of leaflets containing Kashmiris’ demands, into the Hall, on October 10, 1980 during Indian foreign minister’s address to General Assembly, a unique endeavor which made 155 foreign ministers, about a thousand senior diplomats and politicians from all corners of the world and above all hundreds, of world media persons, (then sitting inside the hall and in visitors galleries) aware of Kashmiris demands (through slogans raised by our activists and the  leaflets thrown into the Hall) within one third of an hour , I despite having vast exposure am amazed at his will and valor.

His three press conferences at the UN headquarter in New York, one at National Press Club in Washington (as guest speaker) about half a dozen in London and one or more each in important capitals of Europe. His being the only Kashmiri who has been imprisoned abroad (England 16 months, Belgium 72 days and New York (UN Lockup for one day) as well as in Kashmir and Pakistan for his activities related to liberation of Kashmir. Aman Ullah khan was an upright person, no personal agenda, no personal gains, no personal or political considerations except one of liberating his nation from foreign occupation. Today much is talked about his vision and supervision but for me his dedication and choosing hardships over conveniences remains as most cherished. He was among the most popular political figures of Azad Kashmir, Gilgistan and even in Pakistan he enjoyed wide spread respect and regards but power politics was never his abode. He could have led a luxurious comfortable life in Karachi but chose the horny path and sufferings. Many a times he was offered high offices but he refused to submit before occupation. He too could have used fabricated ill-excuses of serving poor people through Indian or Pakistani mainstream politics but knew no compromises. As far back as in 1973, he was offered President-ship of Pakistan People’s Party in Gilgit Baltistan which would entitle him to become areas first Chief Minister but he flatly refused saying that, that was against his political ideology.      

Today when I look back to my years of life, I proudly cherish my decision to join and unite with Aman Ullah Khan. During my last three visits to Pakistan, I met him several times, enjoying his fatherly affection, gaining from his matchless wisdom, his relentless struggle, his political mastering and every time I met him I found the burning desire of a free Kashmir in his eyes. As per the human psychology and nature, having different opinion on subjects and disagreements with each other on many aspects of life especially a peoples struggle is unavoidable. Aman Sahib was also a human and so difference of opinion with him was not any new thing but those who knew him, who read him or his consistent struggle can never overlook his legendary persona.  He introduced the moto of JKLF ‘Islam our religion, Kashmiriyat our identity and independent Kashmir our goal’. And today hundreds of thousands involved in the resistance and independence politics across the division line admire him for that. Amanullah Khan was a great believer in national unity in politics. In 1966 his proposal to bring about unity of thought and action on topics on which the three parties of Azad Kashmir (1) AJK Muslim Conference (2) Jammu Kashmir Liberation League and (3) Jammu Kashmir Plebiscite Front agreed was approved by the Working Committee of JKPF and he did a lot of running about for that purpose and finally succeeded in it. The Itehad-e-Salasah (The Three Party Alliance) approved a 3 point common agenda including (a) that Jammu Kashmir State included Gilgit Baltistan is an indivisible political entity (b) a democratic setup in Azad Kashmir is the necessity of the day and (c) To mobilize the liberation movement. 

On 26 April 2016 this legendary figure passed away and as per his will was buried in Astore, Gilgit Baltistan. As rightly put by prominent Kashmiri intellectual Shams Rehman “Amanullah Khan’s burial in Gilgit, seems reflecting the vision of the Kashmir state he propagated all his life which includes the Valley, Jammu, Ladkah, AJK and Gilgit Baltistan.

Author is Chairman JKLF. [email protected]

If collateral loss feared, don’t carry out ops, CM tells forces

Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has asked government forces to avoid any harassment of families of militants, sources privy to the unified headquarters meeting held in Srinagar on Tuesday told Kashmir Reader.
According to a senior official, who attended the meeting, “Security agencies were directed to ensure that no harassment is meted out to the families of militants.”
The official said that Mehbooba directed the security agencies to take parents of “agitating” youth into confidence, as and when there is a complaint about a youth. Mufti also said that the family of the youth should in no way be held accountable for the actions of the youth.
The high profile meeting was held at Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC). The meeting was attended by top officials of the army, intelligence, police, and others.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Chief Secretary BR Sharma, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, BB Vyas, Principal Secretary Home RK Goyal, Director General of Police Shesh Pal Vaid, GoC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen Devraj Anbu, Corps Commanders of various army formations in the state, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, senior officers of CRPF, BSF and J&K Police attended the meeting.
The forces discussed the recent breakout of student protests and during the meeting, they were directed by the chief minister that maximum restraint should be followed against civilian protesters and collateral damage avoided.
On the recent attack on a nomad family by cow vigilantes in Jammu’s Reasi district, the chief minister said that the perpetrators should be brought to justice.
During the meeting, top security officials briefed the CM on the security situation in the Valley. “The officials also discussed the security provided to political activists,” an official told Reader.
The chief minister made suggestions to the forces to reach out at the grassroots level to Kashmiri youth, to enable a change in the situation. “She said that youth have unfortunately been caught in a cycle of misinformation and violence. She said they have to be won over with a healing touch,” an official spokesperson said.

After a spree of civilian killings in the past three weeks, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asked the top security forces officers to prevent collateral damage and strictly follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) while dealing with any situation.“If there are apprehensions of collateral damage during an anti-militancy operation then it should not be carried out,” she said. Mehbooba issued the directions while chairing a crucial Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting to discuss the security situation in the region. The UHQ is the topmost security grid of the Army, Central Armed Police Forces, J&K Police and the Central and state intelligence agencies to synergise the anti-militancy operations in the state.The top security officers, during the meeting, were of the view that stone-throwing was a greater challenge in the present situation, sources said.The CM asked the security agencies to behave more humanely with the locals and work in coordination with the J&K Police, the sources said.“The collateral damage should be prevented at any cost during encounters or law and order situations. The SOP should be followed strictly while handling with situations,” Mehbooba told the officers, according to sources.At least 13 youths have been killed in security forces action since March 28, triggering a series of protests in the Valley.Schools and colleges across Kashmir were shut by the government last week after recurring student protests against police action on students of Government Degree College, Pulwama, on April 15. About 50 students of Pulwama college were injured on that day.Mehbooba also asked the top security officers that efforts should be made to bring the local militants back into the mainstream. She asked the officers to ensure a cordial atmosphere so that development projects takes place.“Last year, we suffered a lot on the development front. This year, we should ensure a cordial atmosphere,” she said.Referring to the recent attack on Gujjars in Reasi district, the Chief Minister said they should not be harassed. “The law should strictly be enforced there,” she said, while referring to an attack on a nomad family by cow vigilantes in Reasi.An official spokesman later said that the CM directed the security agencies to ensure that the inter-community harmony and amity among various sections of society was maintained at all costs.“The culprits must be brought to justice if found spreading hatred against a section of society or in the name of a social cause. And, if need be, strict provisions of law be slapped on such hate-mongers who are found taking law into their own hands,” the spokesman said.