The Jammu and Kashmir government has received over 600 applications for a rehabilitation policy from relatives and parents of Kashmiri militants in Pakistan occupied Kashmir who want to return.
"We have received and accepted 600 applications (from the relations of youth aspiring to return back to Jammu and Kashmir from PoK).
They are being verified," Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said. "I hope the day is not far when we will approve these 600 applications for the return and rehabilitation of youth gone across," Omar said, adding that those, who had gone across for arms training to PoK will return without guns but along with wives and children to live a life of honour and dignity.
The applications have been filed with Police chiefs of various districts of Jammu and Kashmir during the past 2 months. In the applications, it has been claimed by parents and relatives that the youths are ready to return home. The state government has formally announced the rehabilitation policy on November 23 last year.
The policy has been launched to facilitate the return of ex-militants who belong to Jammu and Kashmir and had crossed over to PoK for arms and explosive training but had later given up and are willing to return to the state. The policy states that those who have gone to PoK or Pakistan between January 1 1989 and December 31 2009 and their dependents will be eligible for consideration under the policy.
The applications would be scrutinised by District SPs and then forwarded to CID, which will prepare a dossier and give it to the home department which will take a final call on whether the person can be permitted to return, the policy states.
{{/usCountry}}The applications would be scrutinised by District SPs and then forwarded to CID, which will prepare a dossier and give it to the home department which will take a final call on whether the person can be permitted to return, the policy states.
{{/usCountry}}The ultras would be allowed to enter only through Wagah Border in Punjab and Salamabad and Chakan-Da-Bagh LoC points in Jammu and Kashmir, it said. The returnees and their families would be lodged for a period of three months at counselling centres.
"The returnees shall not be entitled to any special benefits or privileges available in the existing surrender and rehabilitation policy," the policy states.