The Jammu & Kashmir Government is all set to rehabilitate children of ex-militants who have returned home via Nepal border in the last three years.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Sajjad Kitchloo on Wednesday said, “A five-member committee has been constituted to ensure rehabilitation of children of ex-militants who have returned home along with their families via Nepal route”.
MoS Home, Director General of Police, Principal Secretary Home Department, IG J&K Police (Kashmir range), Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir would shortly visit Srinagar to review cases of ex-militants whose children were deprived of admissions in schools and other facilities after returning home.
A large group of ex-militants along with their families have earlier staged a protest demonstration in Srinagar last week highlighting their plight and neglect at the hands of the State Government authorities.
Reacting to the questions of mediapersons in the central hall of the Assembly immediately after members of the Opposition parties staged a walkout over the issue of illegal entry of 241 ex-militants in the State, Sajjad Kitchloo said, “Even though no ex-militant returned to India via designated routes under the policy and procedure of Rehabilitation Policy of 2010 yet all those people who have come back via Nepal along with their families would be rehabilitated in the State”.
The lower House also witnessed protests by Panthers party and Jammu State Morcha legislators as Speaker of the House disallowed the adjournment motion of the Panthers Party.
While giving his ruling, Speaker Mubarak Gul said, “There is no harm in rehabilitating misguided youth who are returning home”.
“Our security forces are very alert. They first investigate the cases of returnees thoroughly and then allow them to cross over. They will not let any militant take undue advantage of this policy.” He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also taken strong view on this issue and is in touch with the Centre. So there is no need to admit this adjournment motion, he added.
leader of the Panthers Party Harsh Dev Singh had earlier said, “The State Government in its reply a few days ago had admitted on the floor of the House saying in the last three years 241 ex-militants have returned to India via Nepal route illegally.”
He said, “It is a serious security breach and we want to know from the State Government what action they have taken against these people. How these ex-militants/terrorists were allowed to return home and reunite with their families.”