Kashmiri youth in PoK seek rehabilitation

[Sir john]

Years after their sons were lured away by militant groups to across the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, some 725 Kashmiri families have approached the government to facilitate home coming of their boys along with their wives and children. Official sources said a high-level committee comprising representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir government, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Army and intelligence agencies will scrutinise the applications and verify antecedents of these militants. It will be scrutinised if their desire to return is genuine. Once cleared, they will be issued temporary travel documents and those who have got married while their stay in PoK will be allowed to bring in their wives and children. The first batch of these boys was expected by June, sources said. The committee is expected to hold its meeting immediately after the ongoing panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 725 applications have come under the special surrender and rehabilitation policy announced last year. It covers all people who crossed over to PoK between 1989 and 2009 to embrace militancy and now want to return back and lead a peaceful life. Technically, the people who crossed over cannot apply under the scheme but their parents and families can apply seeking a sort of amnesty for them. The committee will ask the local authorities to identify, before screening them. Home Minister P Chidambaram had recently said that the "PoK is actually an Indian territory" and the government "should facilitate the return" of those who had gone across the LoC for some reasons. “The idea that any Indian who had crossed over to PoK and wishes to return India is certainly welcome,†he had said. The issue of return of Kashmiri youth from PoK cropped up in 2006 when a delegation of leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, visited Pakistan. Several Kashmiris in PoK met them and pleaded with them to facilitate their return, saying they were "homesick".

[kabira]

>should facilitate the return" of those who had gone across the LoC for some reasons. “The idea that any Indian who had crossed over to PoK and wishes to return India is certainly welcome,” he had said. Well said PC....what about Kashmiri Pandits? any plans for them?