Sameer Showkin Lone…
Srinagar: Under the name “Mouj Chei Chaandaan” (mother is searching for you), Army is reportedly pushing New Delhi to approve a new surrender and rehab policy for active militants. The scheme is expected to target the youth who have joined militancy and are actively operating in various parts of the valley.
Top sources in Delhi told The Kashmir Monitor that the ‘rehabilitation’ policy is currently under discussion and it will most probably go by the name “Mouj Chei Chandaan”.
“We are in consultation with some Kashmiri writers and other academicians to suggest other names for the rehabilitation policy. But as of now the most likely name for the proposed policy will be “Mouj Chei Chaandaan”, a top source said, adding, this policy will be like a combo pack of “job offer, funding for further studies and other ventures” these youth will be interested in.
Asked if this scheme will cover the foreign militants who are operating in Kashmir, the source said he isn’t fully aware if there will be any such offer for the foreign militants.
“Our main focus is on the local youth who are a cause of concern. We have to stop this increasing trend anyhow. We are also looking at other pros and cons that push the local youths to join militancy,” he said and added: “It pains us when we see these youth getting killed in encounters.”
“We want them to live a prosperous life like the children of others in Jammu and Kashmir,” said an officer of the rank of Lt. Colonol in Srinagar.
A few days ago Northern Command Chief Lt Gen D S Hooda had promised ‘rehabilitation and other support’ for the Kashmiri youth who have joined militancy in the state. He asked these youth to surrender and return to the mainstream.
D S Hooda had said, “Our appeal (to the educated youth who have joined militancy in Kashmir) is to shun arms and come back into society. They should surrender–come back and return to society. Some of them have come back.”
This rehabilitation policy is seen as the first of its kind.
“We will try to reach to these youth by whatever possible way we can. It will be having various opportunities for these militants. Many among these might be interested in studying. We will try to address their issues,” another source said.
“We need to also view it through a larger perspective. For example recruitment (of educated youth into militancy) is an area of concern,” he added.
However, if a cursory look at the recent past is taken then harassment and not unemployment, is seen as a primary reason that pushes the youth to join militant ranks.
It has been felt over the years that most of the youths have joined militancy because of the frequent harassment by government forces. The ‘poster boy’ of present day militancy Burhan Wani is also supposedly an outcome of harassment.
(Source: Kashmir Monitor)