Says Such Approach Will “Do More Harm Than Good”; Demands Immediate Review
Srinagar, July 23:
J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone on Thursday strongly criticized the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s response in the aftermath of what he termed yesterday’s “dastardly attack,” warning that the sweeping action against individuals listed as Over Ground Workers (OGWs) could prove counterproductive.
In a sharply worded statement issued here , Lone questioned the legal and moral basis of detaining people solely on the strength of their inclusion in the OGW list, pointing out that the list itself is decades old and includes many individuals now well into their seventies.
“You cannot summon and arrest thousands of people because their name is included in the OGW list,” Lone said, adding that the list’s age alone should prompt reconsideration of its continued use as grounds for detention.
The PC chief invoked the broader framework of conflict resolution, noting that societies in similar situations have historically pursued reintegration rather than perpetual suspicion.
“There is a concept of reintegration in conflict situations. People who have taken to arms are eventually encouraged and facilitated to reintegrate with society,” he said, arguing that the current approach runs counter to this established principle.
Lone was unambiguous in his opposition to the scale of the crackdown, describing it as collective retribution rather than targeted law enforcement. “I don’t agree with the concept of mass arrests. It looks more like community punishment,” he stated.
He further accused that it is not a neutral or purely security-driven document, claiming several names were added in the past for political reasons rather than genuine security concerns. “This list is not divine. There are many names in there which are there because of political affiliations inserted at the behest of rulers in the past,” he said, calling for a fresh review of its contents.
Appealing directly to authorities, Lone urged a reassessment of the policy, emphasizing that those on the list continue to live within their communities and remain answerable to local scrutiny.
“We live amongst people here and are subject to questions,” he said, before posing a direct legal challenge to the administration saying, “Which law of our country justifies this community punishment? It is patently illegal.”