Jammu and Kashmir government is working on the draft surrender policy relating to return of Kashmiri militants who had crossed over to PoK, 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 early as possible," he told reporters after the Unified Command meeting here.
"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.
On whether the surrender policy was part of "quiet diplomacy", Chidambaram said, "There is nothing new about the idea. In 1997-98, the CRPF had recruited one whole battalion (about 1,000 men) of militants, who had surrendered and came back to mainstream".
He said the BSF recruited 450 militants who surrendered to the state police forces. "We have a similar policy in North East where insurgents who gave up violence and came back were taken in local police," he said.
'Therefore, militants - these young boys who crossed over to PoK .... if they give up militancy, come back and become law abiding citizens, there is nothing wrong in facilitating their return," he said.
The Home Minister said, "We will be very careful. Nothing would be done in hurry."
On if such a policy was being drafted for misguided Punjab Sikh youth in Pakistan, he said, "We have been talking about J and K. I have not applied my mind to that aspect yet."
Chidambaram parried a reply when asked to comment on Pakistan's response to the surrender policy, asking, "Why should I expect any response from Islamabad?"
Ruling out any difference within Congress over the policy after opposition by Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Home Minister said, "There is a difference. Azad simply flagged the points to be kept in mind while formulating the policy. I said yes, all those points would be kept in mind."
In the same vein, Chidambaram said, "If naxals give up arms and surrender, they would also be rehabilitated."
To a question on increase in violence after the return of militants from PoK under the surrender policy, the Home Minister, who was flanked by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, said, "I do not agree. I have set out a procedure.I do not think there is any difficulty in that."
Giving an assessment of the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "The overall impression I have gained is that in Jammu region - south of Pir Panchal - there is a greater degree of normalcy. In the region north of Pir Panchal, matters are under control."
'In 45 days of this calendar year, there have been 65 incidents showing an increase in the number of militancy incidents. Seven civilians have been killed, 9 members of security forces have lost their lives and 24 terrorists have been neutralised," he said.
"By and lager I am satisfied with improvement in security situation in J&K," he said adding, "We re-emphasise on the policy of zero-tolerance of any violation of human rights or excesses by armed forces or police."
Referring to the killing of a teenager in Srinagar by the BSF, he said, "I told the Chief Minister that we will try to identify the suspect in 48 hours. We did identify the BSF jawan in 48 hours and suspended him and handed him over to police....it is a good example of delivery a promise by us."
On whether there was any Pakistan angle to the Pune blast, he said it was for the city Police Commissioner to say. PTI
