Nine days into militancy, footballer surrenders

Army commends; Police assures no charges, dignified life

SRINAGAR: Nine days after joining militancy, 20-year old ace-footballer from Anantnag, Arshad Majid Khan-moved by pleas of his wailing mother and passionate appeal from his father- on Friday surrendered before security agencies, much to the assurance of a dignified life with no criminal charges to be levelled against him, thus blowing a whiff of fresh air in tense Valley.
The young Khan walked into an Army camp last night quietly after videos of his mother Ayesha and his father appealing to him to return home started circulating on social media and surrendered.
He was taken to the headquarters of Victor Force, an Army unit engaged in countering militancy in South Kashmir, at Awantipora.
The brave move of surrendering has been highly praised by the forces, which while complimenting Khan's "come back" said that his parents have set a 'great example' for other parents to follow and they should make similar appeals to their 'wronged' children.
Majid Khan, the only son of his parents, had joined LeT nine days ago and returned to his normal life after his mother, Ayesha Khan, made passionate appeals for him to return.
Majid, a second-year under-graduate commerce student at the government degree college Anantnag, is a renowned footballer of south Kashmir and had passed class 10 and 12 board examinations with high grades.
"I am waiting for him. I want him to return... I want him to play football again," his mother said while weeping in the video that got viral on social media.
After Khan's "come back", his father, Irshad Khan, who is an employee in Revenue department, felt exalted after learning that his son had left militancy and will join his family back.
"I am very happy. I was worried for him as he is my only son. I have not seen him yet, but I thank all those who helped in his return," said Khan, who had suffered a mild heart attack after his son had joined militants.
While complimenting Majid Khan, his parents and media in helping Khan's come back, top security forces said that "no charges will be pressed on him and he will be able to get back to normal live very soon".
"We compliment him (Majid Khan) and his parents, especially his mother, whose appeals and prayers yielded results. Majid Khan came back and security forces orchestrated his comeback safely," GOC Victor Force, B S Raju, told reporters in a press conference which was jointly addressed by him and IGP, Kashmir, Munir Khan at Victor Force headquarters at Awantipora.
"We got information yesterday that there is an opportunity from his family that this individual wants to come back. And we ensured he come back safely. This was a brave decision keeping in view the status of his family and to pursue his academic career and in sports as well," Raju said.
He said that security forces intend to take this as great example for other parents as well to make their appeals so that right sense prevails among their children and they come back.
The IGP Kashmir said that Majid Khan came back on his own and he had no weapon with him on his return.
"Neither has he surrendered nor was he apprehended. He came back on his own and he went on his own to see how it tasted. And off course his parents and friends were instrumental in bringing him back," he said.
Reiterating his surrender appeal to the local militants, the IGP said that security forces stick to their policy and will welcome the local youth with open arms who have picked the gun.
"All these things led nowhere and their families suffer," he said.
The IGP said that rehabilitation is possible in effective manner. "They (militants who surrender) are part of the society and have a right to live a dignified life.
He said no weapon was recovered from him (Majid Khan), adding that the local militants who will surrender will not face any sort of harassment and they will be secured.
Majid's surrender was seen as a whiff of fresh air in tense South Kashmir which has witnessed large-scale recruitment of local youths by militants in the past.
Unofficial estimates have put the figure of such youths at nearly 150 since July, 2016.
"I request other mothers to make such appeals to their sons asking them to follow Khan's footstep," Director General of Police S P Vaid said.