Jammu: 241 militants have “illegally†returned to their homes in the state from Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) while another 3974 militants are still living across the border in Pakistan and PaK.
“During the past three years and the current year up to 15th February, 241 ex militants/terrorists have returned illegally via Nepal and other routes along with their family membersâ€, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who also holds the portfolio of the Home Minister said in a written reply to the question of member Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta in the Legislative Assembly today.
“Reportedly around 3,974 ultras are still living in PoK and Pakistan (across the border)”, the reply reads. However, none of the returnees has returned through the routes identified by the state government in its policy for rehabilitation of militants living across the LoC.
“No Ex-militant has returned from PoK to the state through the identified routes under the policy and procedure for return of ex militants to J&K State notified by the state government vide No: Home/1376-(ISA) of 2010 dated 23-11-2010â€, it adds.
According to the written reply from the Chief Minister, 29 militants have returned to state in year 2010 out of whom 5 have brought their wives and children along with them while as out of 54 returnees in 2011, 16 have brought their wives and children along with them to their homes in the state. Similarly, in year 2012, 150 ex-militants have returned home among whom 90 brought their wives and children along while as in 2013 (up to Feb 15), 8 ex-militants have returned of whom 2 have brought their wives and children along with them.
“1089 applications have been received on behalf of the ex militants / prospective returnees who are willing to return under the aforementioned policy out of these 191 cases have been recommended for return. The rest of the applications are being scrutinized and verifiedâ€, reads the reply to one of the clauses of the question.
In response to a query as to how much money had been spent on the rehabilitation of the ex-militants returning under the scheme, the reply says, “Since no ex militant has returned through the identified routes in the aforesaid policy after fulfillment of the conditions prescribed in the policy, they are not eligible for any assistance for their rehabilitation. Therefore no assistance can be provided for their rehabilitationâ€.
“The state government will continue with the efforts for implementation of the policy to facilitate return of youth desirous to return to the state under the aforesaid policyâ€, it adds.
