24 militants surrender, join families near LOC

Rampur (Uri), Apr 20: Emotional scenes were witnessed when 24 hardcore militants, belonging to different outfits, met their family members after 15 years as they surrendered in an army camp here today.

A number of militants could not control their emotions and start crying loudly after they saw their parents in the camp.

''We are meeting our family members after 15 years, ''said the militants immediately after their surrender.

They said they crossed over to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) in early 1990s for receiving arms training after they were misled by false slogans by the militant outfit leaders.

''We were trained in different camps set up in POK and other cities of Pakistan, ''they said, adding however for the past few years, their ''sincerity was being doubted by the militants of other countries.'' Kashmiris are not being treated properly and forced to work as bonded labour across the border, they said.

The militants said they were lucky to return back as hundreds of others are facing ''emotional and physical torture'' across the border.

They said they had to feed themselves as only the militants belonging to Pakistan or POK and other countries were getting proper food and other essentials.

UNI