Jammu, Nov 23: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday evening issued procedure notice to facilitate return of former militants.
The state home department issued an order in pursuance to the approval accorded by the Cabinet to rehabilitation policy.
An official statement said that the policy is intended to facilitate the return of ex-militants who belong to J&K State and had crossed over the PaK/Pakistan for training in insurgency but had given up insurgent activities due to a change of heart and are willing to return to the State.
According to the statement, the procedure to be followed in the implementation of the policy has been sanctioned.
It emphasis those who have gone to PaK/Pakistan between January 1,1989 and December 31, 2009 and their dependents will be eligible for consideration under the policy.
The District Superintendent of Police of the concerned district where the prospective returnee normally resided before crossing over to PaK/Pakistan would be the designated authority to whom the parents or close relatives (in case there are no parents) of the prospective returnee or, in exception circumstances, the prospective returnee himself may apply in the prescribed proforma.
All such applications would be first scrutinized by the District Superintendents of Police and then forwarded to CID Hqrs along-with their comments. The State CID will then scrutinize all the applications in consultation with the Central Intelligence agencies/Security Forces, wherever necessary, review the cases registered against the persons and prepare a dossier based on which a recommendations can be made about whether the prospective returnee can be permitted to return.
The dossier so prepared will be forwarded to the Home Department by the State CID where a final decision on whether the application should be accepted or otherwise would be taken by a committee comprising, Financial Commissioner (Home)- Chairman and Director General of Police, Additional Director General of Police, CID Principal Secretary, Law Department, Zonal IGPs, Joint Secretary (K), MHA as members.
Formal orders would be issued by the Home Department and communicated to the authorities concerned with making arrangements for the return of the person.
All such former militants permitted to return under the proposed policy would be permitted to enter only through JCP Wagah, Attari or through Salamabad or Chakan-da-bagh crossings on the Line of Control or through the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
After completion of the formalities at the crossing points, the returnees and their dependents will be escorted to the State of J&K and the District authorities will be duly informed. A record of their entry into India and to J&K will be maintained by the Immigration authorities at the crossing point and by the J&K CID respectively.
The wives, children and other dependants of those returnees who have married in PaK/Pakistan during the period 1.1.1989 to 31.12.2009, will be considered for entry into the country as per the existing laws of the land and the necessary certificate for entry will be issued to them.
Counseling Centres will be established where all the returnees along-with their wives and children would be lodged for a period of three months or for such longer time as would be necessary till they are thoroughly interviewed, de-briefed and all necessary documentation is prepared.
The returnee shall not be entitled to any of the special benefits or Privileges available in the existing surrender/rehabilitation Policy.
No general amnesty is envisaged under this policy and the returnees would be duly prosecuted in cases registered against them which are of a serious nature. However, cases registered against them for having crossed over to PaK/Pakistan would be reviewed.
The returnees will be given training in suitable trades or skills in ITIs or other training institutions in order to enable their re-integration into society.
The conduct and behavior of the returnee will be closely monitored by the local Police and by State CID for a period of two years from the completion of the counseling process.
The State Government will make the policy and the application forms available on the internet (site address to be given) so as to facilitate online registration by the returnees and their family members eligible to apply, the statement added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST