The Indian Intelligence agencies have reportedly tracked down at least 158 ultras who were either camping in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) or other parts of Pakistan in a short span of last 11 months.
According to the latest information on the estimated number of ultras living in PoK/PAK tabled in the lower house of the J&K Assembly by the State Home Department, reportedly there are approximately 4,132 ultras still living in PoK/PAK. The information was tabled in the form of a written reply by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in response to a question of Panthers party legislator Harshdev Singh on Sunday.
Interestingly, in March 2013 the Home department headed by Omar Abdullah had informed the State Assembly that there are still 3,974 militants living in PoK/Pak. According to the security experts, the wide gap between the estimated number of ultras can be attributed to two factors only.
According to them either the militants who are on the run in Kashmir valley have managed to ex-filtrate inside PoK to save themselves from the ‘hot chase’ launched by the security forces or fresh groups of militants operating across the border have come on the radar of the Indian intelligence agencies tracking them inside Pok/PAK during the last 11 months. The State Home department on Sunday also informed the State Assembly that no individual has returned from Pok/PAK to the State during the last three years through the identified routes under the Rehabilitation policy notified in November 2010.
According to the State Home department, 268 individuals along with their family members have returned via Nepal during the past three years up to January 2014. The department said, since Nepal is not a recognised route under the aforesaid policy, the cases under relevant provisions of law have been registered against these individuals. “A total of six ladies along with 13 children, without their husbands, have returned via Nepal during 2012 and 2013, the lower House was informed. Of these, while husbands of two ladies had already infiltrated through loC and later on surrendered, husbands of three ladies have died a natural death and husband of one lady has reportedly gone to Italy.
According to the Home department, “up to January 31, 2014, 1,171 applications have been received on behalf of the prospective returnees who are willing to return under the Rehabilitation policy of 2010”. Out of these 422 cases have been recommended by different intelligence agencies. According to the state Home department, 12 prospective returnees have been recommended to the Govt of India, Ministry of Home Affairs while cases of 382 prospective returnees are under consideration in the Home Department for reference to the Govt of India.