Mirwaiz only interested in money: arrested militant

Srinagar, July 2 (UNI) A militant, arrested by troops near the Line of Control (LoC) while trying to cross into Jammu and Kashmir from the Uri sector, today alleged that moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was interested only in money and does not want peace and normalcy to return to the strife-torn state.

A defence spokesman said Showkat Ahmed Rather, a Pakistan-trained Hizbul Mujahideen militant and a resident of Sopore in Baramulla district, was arrested by troops while trying to cross the LoC in Uri sector early this morning.

Rather, however, claimed that he had surrendered before the troops at the LoC as he wanted to lead a normal life.

The Army produced the arrested militant before the media here this afternoon.

Rather, who had crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for receiving arms training in 2001, said the Mirwaiz and other separatist leaders were not serious in restoring peace in the state.

''They don't want to see restoration of peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and are only concerned with earning money and fame for themselves,'' he told journalists.

Rather said the separatist leadership were making politically motivated statements only to keep themselves relevant.

However, he refused to work for restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the state lacked any genuine leader who wanted restoration of peace and normalcy.

The militant said those who want to work in this direction face serious threat to their lives.

At the time of crossing over to PoK in 2001, Rather was a BSC Part II student at the Government Degree College, Sopore. He later went on to complete his masters in journalism from Allama Iqbal University at Islamabad, Pakistan.

Rather had crossed over to PoK along with 17 other boys to join a militant training camp of the Hizb in Muzaffarabad. He stayed in PoK and Pakistan for six years before returning to here today.

UNI