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'Militants's rehabilitation is not army's responsibility'

''Rehabilitation of militants is not the army's responsibility. Once a militant lays down his arms, the civil administration should take over,'' said Major General J B S Yadava, General Officer Commanding, 8 Mountain Division.

''If the civil administration ignores this responsibility, it would infuse fresh blood into militancy which is presently finding it difficult to recruit Kashmiri youth for carrying on insurgency in the state,'' he added.

In most cases, the militants surrender not because they realise their folly. ''Latest information indicates that they surrender under a well-knit plan of secessionists,'' said Major Gen Yadava. ''They do so to escape the security force pressure. Once this is achieved, they relaunch their subversive activities at the behest of various militant groups.''

The GOC, however, said the army was responsible for the conduct of 'friendly' militants who have been supporting India's drive against insurgency.

Incidentally, the issue of 'friendly' miltants recently affected the army's relations with the Dr Farooq Abdullah government.

The bitterness reached a flashpoint when Education Minister Abdul Quyoom escaped a murderous assault by 'friendly militants'. He went to inspect an examination hall in Anantnag district. Asked about the role of these militants, the minister said, ''We have to curb their activities in the district soon.''

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