- He went on his own, returned on his own: IGP
- He’s a brave boy, who choose to shun militancy: GoC Victor Force
- We respected his mother’s call, says Lashkar
A week after joining Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit, an ace footballer from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district renounced militancy late Thursday evening on his mother’s call of returning home, a video of which went viral on social media.
Addressing a joint news conference with Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Munir Ahmad Khan, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army’s Victor Force, Major General B S Raju Friday complemented Majid terming him a “brave boy” for deciding to shun the path of militancy and returning to the mainstream.
A week ago, 24-year-old Majid’s picture, flaunting an AK 47 rifle, went viral on social media, a new trend local militants use to announce their joining militant ranks.
Terming the previous day as “important”, the GOC told reporters at the Army’s Victor Force headquarters at Awantipora that they last evening received information about Majid wanting to return.
“We did whatever we needed to ensure he was brought in safely,” Raju said.
Majid, a B.Com. student and an ace footballer had left home a week ago to join LeT but returned and presented himself before the Army’s 25 RR camp late Thursday night.
The GOC and the IGP Kashmir complimented Majid’s family especially his mother, Ayesha Begum for her passionate appeal besides the media and troops for orchestrating his safe return.
“He took a brave decision keeping in mind the state of his parents and his career in academics,” the GOC Victor Force said. “He had tread on the beaten path for a while and decided to return on his own having realized his folly.”
Raju promised that having facilitated his return, the Army would not press any charges on him and that he would soon return to normal life.
The GoC said Majid would be provided all opportunities to return to the mainstream and to pursue his academic career as well as to display his sports talent.
Appealing youth who had gone toward militancy and committed no crime to follow into the footsteps of Majid, he said, “We will take their full care.”
Raju also urged militants having committed criminal acts to return.
“Within the provisions of law, necessary steps will be taken to ensure they are able to get back to the mainstream,” he said.
IGP Khan maintained that neither had Majid surrendered nor was he apprehended and no weapon had been recovered from his possession.
“He had gone on his own and returned to his family on his own,” Khan said. “Of course, his father played an instrumental role in bringing him back.”
He said J&K Police has a policy of welcoming local militants back with open arms.
“We will welcome youth who have tread on a wrong path with open arms as we have shown in this case and in previous cases too,” IGP Khan said. “Ultimately, all this leads to nowhere and we want them to live with respect in society and join their families.”
Quoting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s tweet, Khan said everybody wants militants to return home.
“The CM has said ultimately it is the militant’s family that suffers and there is no denying the fact,” Khan said appealing local militants to shun militancy.
On how easy rehabilitation of surrendered militants in society was, the IGP Kashmir said, “Of course rehabilitation is possible in a very effective manner.”
Khan said local militants were part of the society and had every right to live in a society with respect and dignity.
The GOC Raju said the case was a “great example” to other parents whose wards had gone toward militancy.
“Those parents can also appeal their wards to return,” he said.
Majid is a lone son of parents and a heartbreaking video of his mother appealing her son to “return” amid shrieks had gone viral on social media.
On how forces would ensure surrendered militants do not face any harassment, the IGP Kashmir said, “They will not face any sort of harassment.”
Replying to a query on Majid’s reunion with the family, the GoC Victor Force said, “We have already ensured it and he has made initial contact with the family.”
Meanwhile, Chief of Lashkar-e-Toiba Mehmood Shah on Friday said that footballer-turned-militant Majid Khan was permitted to leave for his home following a request from his mother because “he was the only guarantor to his household.”
In an e-mailed statement to local news agency KNS, LeT spokesman Abdullah Ghaznavi quoted Shah as saying: “Lashkar has never sought violence or barbarism. The current development is enough evidence to this claim. The freedom struggle of Kashmir is being brought up by the sacrifices of the whole nation and if one mother calls upon his son to get back to her, we will respect her decision. But the world must witness the barbarism and violence imposed on the household of Majid Khan for the ‘crime’ of standing up against illegal Indian control.”
Shah claimed that the family members of Khan were “threatened to death by Indian forces and as a reaction to this, his mother requested him to come back. We respected his mother’s call. If, under any circumstances, Majid is martyred by the police under the disguise of a fake encounter, then the sons of the very police officers will bear severe consequences,” he said.
