Another militant surrendered in Kashmir after his return from PoK

Uri, North Kashmir, July 2 (UNI) Majority youths, who had gone to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) for receiving arms training in the 1990s, were now eager to return to restart a normal and honourable life, a militant who surrendered before troops here early this morning said.

Confirming that a large number of youths from different cities of Pakistan and PoK besides from other countries were receiving arms traninng in a number of camps set up across the border, the militant said Kashmiris were not being trusted anymore in these camps.

The militant, a resident of Sopore, in Baramulla district of north Kashmir gave the slip to camp officials and after trekking several km on foot through difficult terrain and thick forest, finally crossed to this side of the border at Uri.

''I was not afraid of getting killed by Indian troops once I cross the Line of Control (LoC),'' he said, adding that life across the border was worse than death.

He said hundreds of Kashmiri youths in different camps were praying to God to help them return to their homes here because of ill-treatment from camp officials.

He said a good number of Kashmiri youths had married girls in PoK since a majority of local male residents were working in different Arab countries.

The militant said majority girls were educated than males in PoK.

He said it hardly mattered wether he would be jailed or allowed to lead a normal life by the authorities as his main aim was to return from PoK which was worse than hell.

Almost all the Kashmiri youths, still in PoK, were eager to return and reunite with their family members once again and lead a peaceful life, the militant said.

He said a large number of militants were waiting in launching pads near the LoC to infiltrate into this side.

About 100 militants and their family members surrendered before security forces, mostly in Uri sector, during the past two years.

More than 20 militants were gunned down by the security forces immediately after they crossed into this side from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir during the past two weeks.

UNI