J and K allows 300 militants to return for rehabilitation

The Jammu and Kashmir government has cleared the cases of more than 300 militants who want to return from Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir under state government’s ‘surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy.’

Sources told Deccan Herald that a high powered panel has recommended return of more than 300 youth who crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for arms training during the last two decades but want to return and “live a dignified life”.

“The panel headed by State Home Secretary Suresh Kumar and comprising top officials of police and intelligence agencies cleared the cases. However, nobody from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was present in the meeting,” they said, adding that the Ministry had given its nod for holding the meeting in the absence of its representative.

Joint Secretary (Kashmir) MHA is one of the members of the panel. Suresh Kumar confirmed that they have cleared many cases but refused to reveal the precise number.

Those militants who had gone to PoK and Pakistan between 1-1-1989 and December 31, 2009 and their dependents are eligible for consideration under the policy.

Under the policy, applications filed by relatives and parents of the militants wishing to return from POK are first scrutinized by the district police chiefs and then forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID in turn scrutinizes the applications in consultation with central intelligence agencies, review the cases registered against the persons and prepares a dossier, based on which recommendations are made.

Later, the dossiers are forwarded to the Home Department by CID where a final call on accepting the application is made.

Sources said that J&K government had apprehensions that a rigid system of surrender by ex-militants may not work on the ground. “On the recommendations of the state government, central agencies are also pitching for continuing with the same informal system for surrender under the J&K scheme, as it gives cover to the militants wishing to come back via Nepal route,” they said.

“If multiple checks and balances are introduced, the ex-militants may become wary of the Pakistani agencies getting alerted. Too much paperwork and formalities may add to the risk of the prospective surrenderee’s identity getting compromised,” they warned.
Till the end of 2012, J&K government had received more than 1100 applications from former militants in POK for their return under the policy.