Be cautious while clearing names under J&K ex-militant policy: Parliamentary panel

A Parliamentary panel today said the Centre should be "extremely cautious" in clearing names of militants who had exfilitrated in early 1990s and wanted to return now under a new surrender policy of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Tabling an Action Taken Report on recommendations and observations on Rehabilitation of Jammu and Kashmir migrants in Rajya Sabha, the Parliamentary panel said representatives of some organisations have expressed their concern to them that under the policy, militants could be entering the Kashmir Valley without proper verification. "The Committee advises the Government to be extremely cautious in clearing the names of militants for surrender. Militants who have shown signs of change of heart may only be accommodated," the report said.

Under rehabilitation for surrendered militants initiated by Omar Abdullah government, as many as 302 people, who had exfilitrated for undergoing militant training in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir, had since returned from Nepal along with their family members.

Abdullah had informed the Assembly that the state had received 1,171 applications on behalf of the former militants for consideration under the rehabilitation policy. The parliamentary panel also asked the state government to look into the demand of Kashmiri Pandits for conferring on them minority status keeping in mind their pitiable condition.

The committee notes that according to the state government, the Kashmiri Pandits belong to the Hindu religion and as such do not qualify for grants of minority status However, the panel said it feels that the issue of granting minority status needs to be examined by the state government from all angles.