J&K to establish transit clusters for Hindu migrants

The Jammu and Kashmir government announced that it is setting up three transit clusters for Kashmiri Hindu migrants willing to return and settle in the Kashmir valley.

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday announced that it is setting up three transit clusters for Kashmiri Hindu migrants willing to return and settle in the Kashmir valley.

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The clusters will be set up in Baramullah, Kulgam and Anantnag districts. The decision was taken at a meeting held in Jammu under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra, a government spokesman said.

Approximately 350,000 Kashmiri Hindus had fled the valley in 1990, fearing persecution by Islamic militants after a spate of murders of community leaders.

Relief and rehabilitation department officials said more than 1,000 Kashmiri Hindus, living in Jammu as migrants, have filled forms stating they want to return to the valley provided adequate security is offered to them.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a rehabilitation package of Rs 16.18 billion for Kashmiri Hindus. The first instalment of Rs 83.5 million has been released for the provision of housing, transit accommodation and resumption of agriculture in the valley by Hindus. The guidelines for these various schemes have also been laid down.