The Home Ministry, according to sources here, received an SOS from the J&K Government which is finding it extremely difficult to contain the restive Defence Minister. Fernandes' abrupt decision to shed his security personnel and foray into extremist strong-holds took the State Government by surprise.

And not many were willing to take a chance, considering, among other things, last month's assassination of Tripura Health Minister when he rushed ahead unescorted to meet militants.

Unwilling to take the blame for any eventuality if Fernandes persisted with his decision, the J&K Government quickly referred the matter to the Union Home Ministry. Thelatter this morning sent its reply to the State headquarters in Srinagar: George Fernandes will not move without his security personnel, which in this case will also include officials of the State police.

As a senior Home Ministry official explained, "We cannot take even half a chance in these matters. It could prove fatal for the Defence Minister."

But observers here feel there is more to the episode than meets the eye. Fernandes' offer to "talk to anybody, including the militants" made in the Valley yesterday almost coincided with the Home Minister L K Advani's meeting with State Governor Girish Saxena at North Block here. But in contrast to Fernandes' soft approach, Advani, it is learnt, asked Saxena to get tough with the extremists.

Advani reportedly asked the Governor to ensure the timely return of migrant Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley -- and one way of doing it would be to discard the kid-glove treatment of militant groups, including the loosely-knit conglomeration popularly known as HurriyatConference. Saxena left North Block carrying clear-cut instructions: this time, the Home Ministry means business.

It is no coincidence that Fernandes has crossed Advani's path twice in the past one month. Earlier, while visiting the north-eastern states, the Defence Minister urged the militants to come to the negotiation table. But the Home Ministry did not take kindly to Fernandes' offer. In fact, it found itself in a piquant situation as it was in the process of strengthening the police force of the north-east states to take on the militants.

In any case, point out officials, it is primarily the Home Ministry's job to tackle militancy in J&K and the north-east in tandem with the Governments of these states.

"By offering unsolicited talks to insurgents, the Defence Minister is exceeding his jurisdiction. But more than creating confusion in the bureaucracy, the dual-signals being sent in these troubled states will also undermine any real breakthrough we may achieve in near future in snuffing outmilitancy," said one of them.