1292 families from J&K migrated to PoK, no proposal to bring them back

 

SRINAGAR:  As many as 1,292 families from Jammu and Kashmir have crossed over to  Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) since 1990 and there is no proposal to bring them back to their native places.

Meanwhile, Nepal route could also be included in the entry points for Kashmiri residents in POK who wanted to return after shunning the path of violence.

This information was given by Minister for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation Syed Basharat Bukhari in reply to a question by independent MLA from Langate Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid in the Legislative Assembly today.

The reply said that the highest 534 families migrated to PoK since 1990, followed by 376 from Poonch, Baramulla 255 families, Bandipora 99 families, Pulwama 11 families, Poonch nine, Ganderbal three, Anantnag two and one each from Srinagar, Badgam and Shopian.

Mr Bukhari said there is no proposal with the government to get these families back to their native places.

However, the government  in an order on November 23, 2010 mentioned that there is a policy for “Return and rehabilitation of militants” which aims at those misguided youth who belong to the Jammu and Kashmir state and had crossed over to PoK or Pakistan between the periods from January I, 1989 to December  31,2009 for training in insurgency but have given up insurgency activities due to change of heart and are willing to return to the State.

The policy recognises four routes for return of the ex-militants, including JCP, Wagah/Attari, Salamabad/ Chakkan-dabagh and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

The reply said that since the inception of this policy, no youth has returned via any of the approved routes due to inexplicable reasons/difficulties.

However, the youth have been returning to the state alongwith their families (wives and children)  via Nepal which is not an approved route under the policy.

The policy of 2010 provides for a High Level Committee (HLC) headed by Administrative Secretary, Home department to examine the application of the prospective returnees whether these should be accepted or otherwise.

The reply said that on the recommendation of the HLC, the Home Department through a communications dated 14.7.2011 and 30.10, 2014 recommended 391 prospective returnees to the Government of India (GoI), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

On these recommendations 68 cases of prospective returnees, he said, adding GoI, MHA has sought comments of State government on inclusion of Nepal route as an additional entry point under the 2010 policy.          Now the state government has forwarded its comments to MHA, the reply said. (AGENCIES)

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