Former militant’s family mocks at Omar’s rehabilitation offer

Jammu, Apr 19: At a time when Omar Abdullah led government is mullinga proposal for rehabilitation of youth who had gone to Pakistanadministered Kashmir for arms training, a former militant from Kupwarathreatened to commit suicide on Monday along with his wife and twochildren after Chief Minister refused to meet them despite theirrepeated attempts for over past one month.Shafat Mohiuddin, who had surrendered before the Army in 1999,threatened to commit suicide on Monday along with 30-year old wifeShabnum and their two children. The former militant’s family alsostaged a protest outside the office of Relief Commissioner Jammu.“I and my family have been running from pillar to post to get reliefassistance as promised by the government at the time of my surrender,but to no avail. My file has not been cleared by the officials of HomeDepartment and Relief Commissioner Office for past seven years,” saidShafat.His wife Shabnum chips in. “I tried to meet CM so that he could hearmy plea, but his security staff does not allow me to meet him. Fewdays back, I tried to break security cordon to meet him, but to noavail.”Pertinently, three police officers of CM’s security were put undersuspension for letting Shabnum to break Omar’s security cover in thecivil secretariat here.The family, which has migrated to Jammu from Kupwara soon afterShafat’s surrender, is leading a life of penury. They say that theyhad become target of Hizbul Mujahideen militants, which forced them toleave their village and are since then living in fear for their life.“We shifted Jammu about nine years back, but we have not received anyrelief and this is what we have got to accept the constitution ofIndia,” said Shabnum.Mocking at the Chief Minister’s recent announcement about safe returnand rehabilitation of Kashmiri youth currently based in PaK, Shafatsaid, “What will be the fate of those who will come to Kashmir fromPaK to lay down their arms when we have been struggling from the lastseven years to get a job and relief besides leading a life in constantthreat of militants.”