Over 1000 PoK ex-militants seek rehabilitation in J&K: Omar

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government today said 1034 applications have been received from former militants in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), for their return under rehabilitation policy.

“So far 1034 applications have been received on behalf of persons presently in PoK who intent to return under rehabilitation policy”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, in reply to a cut motion by CPI(M) member M Y Tarigami in J&K Assembly today.

Omar, whose Home department’s grants are being debated, said, “out of these applications, 67 cases have been recommended, the decision on which is awaited”.

He further said, rest of the applications are being scrutinised and verified. Giving further details, he said working group on “Confidence Building Measures across the segment of people in the state” had recommended a definite policy and package for the return and rehabilitation of state’s subjects from across the border.

Acting on working group’s recommendations, the state government had notified the policy and procedure on November 23, 2010, for the return of ex-militants, he said.

Replying to another question of JKNPP MLA Yashpal Kundal, he said, those who have gone to PoK and Pakistan between 1-1-1989 and December 31, 2009 and their dependents will be eligible for consideration under the policy.

PTI