Srinagar: Setting in motion the new
surrender policy, Jammu and Kashmir Government has sent a list
of 20 youths, currently in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, to the
Centre seeking their return to the state and their
rehabilitation.
"We have cleared cases of 20 persons. The names have
been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry
of External Affairs (MEA) for further follow up," J-K Home
Commissioner B R Sharma told agency.
"The committee has recommended that they should be
given benefit of the (surrender and rehabilitation) policy,"
he said.
The list would be cleared by the Union Home Ministry and
sent to External Affairs Ministry which would in turn inform
the Indian Mission in Islamabad to provide Emergency
Certificate or temporary passport to the people.
The names were cleared by a high-level panel comprising
Financial Commissioner (Home) and DGP, ADGP (CID), Principal
Secretary Law, Zonal IGPs and representative from the Centre,
at a meeting held recently in Srinagar.
The state government had on November 23 last year
announced its surrender and rehabilitation policy intended to
facilitate the return of its men who had sneaked to PoK for
getting training in militancy but had later given up it due to
change of heart and are willing to return to the state.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had on Monday said the
government has received nearly 700 applications from local
militants in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, who want to renounce
violence and join the mainstream.
The high-level group would be meeting within a fortnight
again to give clearance to other youths, whose families have
approached the local administration.
An estimated 1,300 youths from various parts of the
state are in PoK and most of them and are willing to return,
officials said.
"Those who have gone to PoK/Pakistan between 1.1.1989
and 31.12.2009 and their dependents will be eligible for
consideration under the policy," says the policy.
PTI
