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| HM's surrender programme evokes good response | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 24: The opposition of the United Jihad Council (UJC) , an amalgam of militant outfits operating from Pakistan administered Kashmir notwithstanding, the Union Home Ministry's `surrender programme' has evoked good response from Kashmiri youth on the other side of the LoC. According to reliable sources, ten youth have so far availed the `benefits' of the policy and returned home.
When two youth returned two months ago, people in large numbers came out to greet them in their native town Pattan. For several days people from the adjoining villages called on them to know about their welfare. Their relatives feared for their lives but now everything seems alright. The only inconvenience being the weekly visits to the police station. They are supposed to present themselves in the police station twice a week.
Talking to Early Times, they said thousands of youth in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) and Pakistan wanted to come back. "Most of them work as salesmen and make ends meet with great difficulty", they said.
Two Kupwara youth, one from Uri and two from Pulwama district had a similar story to tell. Although people know about their return, all of them want to stay away from media. Manzoor Ahmad Bhat is different. He shared details of his `sojourn' to PaK and his return willingly without caring for the consequences.
Bhat returned with three kids in February. He hat was only 14 when he went across the LoC to seek arms training with a group sponsored by JKLF in November 1990. After seeking training in handling of arms and ammunition in a camp, Bhat chose to stay back and worked as a salesman in a departmental store in Karachi. He got married but his wife died of lung cancer. After this tragedy, Bhat desperately wanted to come back to his native land. As soon as he heard about the surrender programme, he made up his mind to avail it.
On February 26, Bhat and his three kids took a flight to Nepal from where they crossed into India. Bhat and his kids were warmly received at Shopian by their relatives and neighbours. Immediately after his arrival in Shopian, Bhat went to the police station where he was interrogated by state intelligence sleuths and army for ten days. He was later sent to Srinagar Central Jail for 17 days. However, after his release he was assured a smooth life.
As per the surrender policy, any person who avails it has to make himself available for interrogation by the police and other agencies. He cannot claim rehabilitation. No criminal cases against such persons shall be withdrawn. The person availing the policy shall have to report in the concerned police station twice a week.
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