- LeT says ‘Permitted Majid Khan to leave on mother’s request’
- No charges will be pressed against Majid Khan: Police, army
- Mother’s love has prevailed, Says CM Mehbooba
- Hope Majid won’t be harassed after surrender says Ex CM Omar
Srinagar: Days after appeal by his parents to shun militancy and return home, twenty-year-old Majid Khan who joined the ranks of militants last week has handed himself to the government forces. Army and police have said that no case will be pressed against Majid after his surrender.While militant outfit Lashkar e Toiba has said that Majid Khan was allowed to leave on mother’s request, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has credited the surrender to the love shown by the mother of Majid and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has hoped that Majid won’t be harassed now by police and army,
Sources said that Khan, an ace footballer, surrendered before 1RR of army under 1 sector Khanabal last night around 10:30 pm. He was later handed over to Victor Force, based in Awantipora.
His mother, 50 year-old Ashiya Begum, had not eaten since last Thursday when Khan disappeared suddenly. A day later, his photograph surfaced on Whatsapp showing him posing with an assault rifle. The distraught mother had been making fervent appeals to everyone who visited her home to help her son return home.
On Tuesday, his father, 59 year-old Irshad Ahmad Khan, suffered a mild heart attack after hearing that his son had been trapped in a gunfight in Kulgam.
Majid’s surrender comes a day after Kashmir police chief Muneer Khan reiterated the surrender offer for local men who gave up militancy. He said that those local men who lay down arms will be adequately supported and rehabilitated.
Reacting to the surrender of Majid Khan the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Mehmood Shah in a statement to a local news agency said a youth Majid Arshad Khan, who joined the militants over a week ago, was permitted to leave for his home on the request of his mother, since he was the only guarantor to his household.
“Lashkar-e-Taiba has never sought violence or barbarism,” a spokesperson of the outfit Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi said in a statement to a local news gathering agency while quoting LeT chief. “The current development is evident to this claim.” He said the “freedom struggle of Kashmir is being brought up by the sacrifices of whole nation and if one mother calls upon his son to get back to her, we will respect her decision”. He said the “freedom struggle of Kashmir is being brought up by the sacrifices of whole nation and if one mother calls upon his son to get back to her, we will respect her decision”. “But the world must witness the barbarism and violence imposed on the household of Majid Arshad Khan for the crime of standing up against the illegal Indian occupation,” the LeT spokesperson said.
“The family members were threatened to death by Indian forces in reaction to which his mother requested him to come back,” Ghaznavi claimed. “We respected the mother’s call.” “If, under any circumstances, Majid is killed by police under the disguise of fake encounter, then the sons of the very police officers will bear severe consequences,” he said.
Reacting to the surrender of Majid Khan the Army and police said Majid Khan, a footballer who joined the militants over a week ago, has decided to return home and that the military merely facilitated his decision.
Addressing a press conference at Awanipora Victor Force base, Major General B.S. Raju said: “The brave young man, Majid Khan, decided on his own to shun violence and return to lead a normal life pursuing his academics and passion for football. “He was neither apprehended nor did he surrender. We only facilitated his return,” he added. Majid made a brief presence at the press conference. “I compliment him and assure him that he will be able to get back and lead a normal life very soon,” he told reporters.
Reacting to the surrender of Majid Khan the Inspector General of Police Kashmir Range, Muneer Ahmed Khan, said no charges would be pressed against Majid, 20, and he would be straightaway allowed to join his family.
IGP Munir Khan while responding to a question said: “You seriously expected Lashkar to say he was in their group? What are you saying, they kill people and then don’t won up. How will they acknowledge this,” Khan said.
Army sources had earlier said that Majid surrendered after walking into a Rashtriya Rifles camp at Kulgam on Thursday evening.
He was handed over to Victor Force in Awantipora town which oversees all anti-militancy operations of the Army in south Kashmir.
Police on Friday assured the family of Majid Khan that no charges will be pressed against their son who has “returned home after shunning the path of violence”.
“On the night of 16th Nov 17, Majid Khan, a 20 year old boy, an ace footballer from Anantnag returned to his parents. The boy had gone astray a few days back however, on his own initiative he has shunned the path of violence and understood his obligations towards his parents,” said a spokesman.
“Majid is the only son of his parents who has displayed boldness and strength in his decision. On his return, the Security Forces have reassured him and his family that no charges will be pressed against him,” he said.
Forces once again exhort all young local boys who have gone astray or have joined the militants to shun the path of violence and come back to their families, he said.
“The Security Forces will welcome them and help them in their endeavours whole-heartedly,” said the spokesman.
Reacting over the returning back of ace footballer Majid Khan of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district from the fold of militancy, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti termed it as a positive sign and said mothers love finally prevailed. Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter and wrote: “A mother’s love prevailed. Her impassioned appeal helped in getting Majid, an aspiring footballer back home. Every time a youngster resorts to violence, it is his family which suffers the most.” Majid from Sidiqabad Anantnag had recently joined militant ranks while on Thursday he reportedly returned back to his family and accordingly he was taken by government forces for questioning.
Reacting to the surrender former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that he hoped Majid Khan could lead a normal life and “not be harassed”.
“If that’s true then it’s a very good development. Hope he can go back to leading a normal life & not be harassed,” Abdullah tweeted while reacting on reported surrender of footballer-turned-militant.
