JK cabinet nod for surrender policy for youths who went to POK

Jammu, Nov 22 (PTI) The much-talked about surrender
policy for youths who had exfiltrated from Jammu and Kashmir
between 1989 and 2009 for arms training and have a change of
heart now was cleared Monday by the state cabinet.
Under the policy, which got its nod from the J&k
Cabinet led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, youths who had
crossed over to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK)
will be eligible for the scheme.
The policy had received nod from by Indian Home Ministry
also after consultation with the Army and central security
agencies, official sources said.
The J&k Chief Minister was of the view that once the
policy comes into effect, new channel would be opened up
enabling these youths to resume their normal life after proper
precautions were taken.
"What is proposed is that for those who are desirous of
returning without arms and resuming some form of normal life,
we will open channels for them so that they can be able to
come back," Omar had said.
Under the policy, parents of the youths who had crossed
over to Pakistan or PoK can approach the Superintendent of
Police of their district certifying that their child wanted to
return and live a normal life.
The policy, which was discussed threadbare with Union
Home Ministry, is expected to put an end to illegal entry of
such youths who were entering India through Nepal, Bangladesh
or Wagah border using fake documents and coming to Kashmir.
These parents will receive orders from the SP only after
the case was scrutinised by the state CID in consultation with
the central security agencies, the sources said.
Under the policy, the youth will be kept in a camp where
they would be monitored and imparted training so that they
could earn their livelihood, the sources said. In the
meantime, if someone arrived with their wife and children,
they would also be provided with emergency certificate.
"There will be a cooling off period, some counselling,
rehabilitation and certain amount of interface between the
security forces and them to be assured that they are not being
planted and they are actually people who are coming back for
resumption of normal life. That is the broad parameters of the
policy," a senior official said.
Asked what could be the numbers of such people, the
official said "the numbers run into thousands but I am not,
even for a moment, suggesting that all are going to come
knocking on our door on the first day. It may really be a
very small trickle that seeks to take advantage of this but
the fact is that people are coming."