Srinagar, February 16, (Scoop News)-Jammu & Kashmir Youth Development Forum (JKYDF) held separate meetings with groups of former militants in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts.
About 50 ex militants and the ex commanders of different militant organizations who have returned from Pakistan and shun violence participated in the meetings. Addressing the function Chairman JKYD Forum said, “We will provide a platform for rehabilitation militants who have returned from Pakistan and shun the violence.”
On the occasion the Pakistan trained ex-militants exposed the policies of Pakistan and the role they played in Kashmir in the name of Islam. Sajad Ahmad Khan, an ex militant who was arrested by security force in 2003 was released after 27 months, said, “During my arrest period nobody took care of my old age parents. My mother died due to non availability of medical treatment,” he said and added Pakistan collected money/donation for Jihad in Kashmir and the families of killed militants.
“But I am an eye witness that not a penny was spent on the families of killed militant,” he said.
Another former militant Mubishar Ahmad said Pakistani does not provide proper facilities in training camps in Pakistan and POK. “All the Kashmiri militants want to return home. Their families and other relatives are suffering as a result of harassment by police. We don’t need any economic package, we just want freedom from the daily harassment,” Mubishar added.
Sarajudin Ahmad, a former militant from Pulwama, said near about 30000 Kashmiris – militants as well as refugees – are living in camps in POK. “Each of them lives on Rs 1500 per-month doled out by various tanzeems (militant groups) in refugee camps at Rawalakot, Bagh, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Mirpur in POK. Almost all of them want to come back Kashmir,” he said.
He said there is no respect for Kashmiri militants in Pakistan.
However, they also criticized Jammu and Kashmir government for failing to fulfill its promised made with them. “The police blames us for all the past three agitations and past assassinations of leaders. The claims of rehabilitation are a hoax,” he said and added even their relatives who want perform Hajj pilgrimage aren’t provided travel documents.
A former militant hailing from Shopian area said the police left him in lurch by putting in place strict procedures. “I have reached 45 years of age and I’m still unmarried as I’m unemployed due to strict processes by the government,” he said.
According to him police and district administration was calling former militants for meetings for past three years. “Thousands of us have attended those meetings. The district SSPs and concerned district commissioners have made speeches outlining rehabilitation programme,” he said. “Practically speaking nothing happened of that sought. And it will never happen in future.”
27000 ex-militants have surrendered in view of the rehabilitation policy of government, but have been facing problems due to the failure of state government. “The government had earlier announced about rehabilitation policy but had done nothing to rehabilitate the ex-militants who are now facing harassment from society as well as from government at large. While the policy has been successful in states like Punjab and North East, here it has remained on papers only. Why Government has reportedly spent near about Rs 10 crore to provide security cover to separatist leaders the last 13 years. Single penny had not be spend on the rehabilitation of ex militants,” they rued.
General Secretary J&K Youth Development Forum assured the ex militants of rehabilitation and the ex militants who want to expose the policies of Pakistan played in Kashmir in the name of Jihad.
He announced that the Forum will hold such meeting in every nook and corner of the state in coming months to expose the real face of Pakistan.
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