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J&K govt working on surrender policy: Chidambaram

Last updated on: February 17, 2010 16:07 IST

The Jammu and Kashmir government is working on the draft surrender policy relating to return of Kashmiri militants who had crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Wednesday.

"The scheme (surrender policy) has to be worked out. I will request the state government to give us a draft as earlier as possible," he told mediapersons after the Unified Command meeting in Jammu.

"However, I have identified some points which have to be factored in like identification, screening, facilitating travel back to Jammu and Kashmir, de-briefing and rehabilitation. This will take time. We will work on the scheme patiently and carefully," he said.

The home minister said the idea was to facilitate youth who have crossed over to PoK to return to the state and be united with their families if they shun militancy.

Earlier, tight security arrangements were made for the home minister's visit in view of the state Bharatiya Janata Party's plan to gherao him to protest his approval of the policy to allow surrender of militants mooted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Barring a demonstration by over 100 workers led by BJP's state legislative party leader Chaman Lal Gupta at Bikram Chowk, the law and order situation was peaceful in the city, police said.

The meeting being held at the chief minister's residence was attended by Director general of Police Kuldeep Khuda, besides chiefs of Border Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force.

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