New SOPs for surrendering J&K militants soon: RK Singh

Gurgaon: A new set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Kashmiri militants, who want to enter India through the Nepal border for surrendering under a special scheme, will be rolled out soon, Union Home Secretary RK Singh said on Monday.

"We have got comments of all stakeholders on the subject. And the improved procedures, I think, will be out in a few days," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar here. The issue had come to light following the arrest of suspected Hizbul militant Liyaqat Shah by the Delhi Police from Indo-Nepal border area. While the Delhi Police had claimed that Shah was a `fidayeen` attacker and planning to target Delhi during `Holi` festivities, its Jammu and Kashmir counterpart has maintained that Shah was on way to the state to avail the J&K government`s rehabilitation policy for surrendered militants. After protest by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Home Ministry had asked the National Investigation Agency to find out the circumstances leading to the arrest of Shah. The Home Secretary said J&K Police will "come and escort" these people (militants) from the border to the state and they would also carry out "background checks" of these individuals. Singh was at the National Security Guard (NSG) campus in Manesar here for delivering a speech on counter-terrorism. Over 260 ex-militants have returned to Jammu and Kashmir via Nepal under a special surrender and rehabilitation policy. Minister of State for Home R P N Singh, on April 30 had informed Lok Sabha, that about 262 ex-militants have returned via Nepal since 2010 and till April 10 this year as per reports of J&K Police. J&K Police, Army, Indo-Nepal border guarding force Sashastra Seema Bal, Intelligence Bureau and the RAW are among the major stakeholders on the issue. PTI