Srinagar, May 12: Setting in motion the new surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy, the Jammu and Kashmir government has sent a list of 20 youths, currently in Pakistan-administered-Kashmir (PaK), to the Centre seeking their return to the state and their rehabilitation.
“We have cleared cases of 20 persons. The names have been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for further follow up,” Home Commissioner B R Sharma told PTI.
“The committee has recommended that they should be given benefit of the (surrender and rehabilitation) policy,” he said.
The list would be cleared by the Union Home Ministry and sent to External Affairs Ministry which would in turn inform the Indian Mission in Islamabad to provide Emergency Certificate or temporary passport to the people.
The names were cleared by a high-level panel comprising Financial Commissioner (Home), DGP, ADGP (CID), Secretary Law, Zonal IGPs and representative from the Centre, at a meeting held recently in Srinagar.
The state government had on November 23 last year announced its surrender and rehabilitation policy intended to facilitate the return of its men who had sneaked to PaK for getting training in militancy but had later given up it due to change of heart and are now willing to return to the state.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had on Monday said the government has received nearly 700 applications from local militants in PaK, who want to renounce violence and join the mainstream.
The high-level group would be meeting within a fortnight again to give clearance to other youths, whose families have approached the local administration.
An estimated 1,300 youths from various parts of the state are in PaK and most of them and are willing to return, officials said.
“Those who have gone to PaK/Pakistan between 1.1.1989 and 31.12.2009 and their dependents will be eligible for consideration under the policy,” says the policy.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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