Offering the bait of general amnesty to policemen allegedly involved in human rights abuse, J-K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said today that those who are ‘‘pardoned’’ would have to mend their ways and henceforth handle any situation ‘‘kind heartedly’’. In his first speech to policemen at the graduation ceremony of 573 trainee recruits at Police Training School at Manigam, 30 kms from Srinagar, Sayeed said the ‘‘culture of vengeance’’ has to be abandoned. ‘‘You are attached to this land and nobody else knows it as well as you do. The conditions here will change once policemen are capable of handling the situation aptly. But even while tackling militants, you have to be sympathetic and not vindictive,’’ he said. Touching on the issue of disbanding of the controversial Special Operations Group of J-K police, Sayeed said: ‘‘There was a controversy over the SOG at the time we took over. But we do not believe in vengeance. We believe in amnesty to whoever has done wrong, with a vow that they would mend their ways. From the day we assumed office, there has been a change in the attitude and image of security forces.’’ Reiterating his ‘‘healing touch’’ policy, Sayeed told the gathering that unless ‘‘we win the hearts and minds’’ of the people, there cannot be a resolution to the problem. He asked the state police to set up a helpline where aggrieved people can seek information about their missing kin. ‘‘Many people say there have been disappearances though some might have crossed over to Pakistan. We can offer them solace through these helplines. This way we can heal their wounds,’’ said Sayeed. Claiming that the initiative his government had taken to provide justice to all would bear fruit, he said: ‘‘Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani said we are ready to discuss the problem with everyone — even with those who have not been elected. This is the democracy where people have been given the freedom to say whatever they want to,’’ he said.
