Another youth shuns militancy, returns home in South Kashmir

An unnamed youth, who had joined militant ranks, on Monday shunned the path of violence and returned home in south Kashmir following an appeal by his parents, police said.

The development comes three days after footballer- turned-militant Majid Khan laid down arms and returned home following an appeal by his mother which was doing rounds of social media last week.

A police spokesman said: "Responding to the appeal of parents one more youth, who had joined militants, returns home in South Kashmir".

He refused to give details of the youth, saying the security and safety of the individual concerned was paramount.

Meanwhile, another video has surfaced in which family of a youth form Kaprin in Shopian district has appealed to their son, Ashiq Hussain Bhat, to return home.

It was not immediately clear whether the youth to shun violence today was Bhat.

Anantnag's 20-year-old promising footballer Majid Khan, who had joined militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba recently, surrendered before the security forces on Friday.

Last week, Majid's photo holding an AK-47 went viral on social networking sites. Later, the police confirmed that Majid, a resident of Sadiqabad locality of Anantnag town in South Kashmir and only son of his parents, joined Lashkar-e-Taiba.

However, the relentless campaign was launched on social media for return following the appeal of his parents. On Thursday evening his father's picture appeared on social media as being admitted to the hospital.

PTI