Will ensure those joining militant ranks return home: Mehbooba Mufti

TIL Desk/National/Jammu/ Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday vowed to break the ‘vicious cycle’ of youth taking up arms on the death of a militant and said efforts were on to ensure that those joining militant ranks return home.

She said that her government would continue its efforts to bring back local youth who had joined militancy to end the ‘vicious cycle’ besides strengthening panchayats after successfully conducting the elections next month.

Jaish-e-Mohammad’s ‘Afzal Guru squad’ that has claimed responsibility for major terror attacks in the Valley recently is a challenge for not only the government but for all of us, she said in her reply to the motion of thanks on the Governor?s address in the state assembly here.

“(Slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander) Burhan Wani was born at that time (when NC-Congress was ruling the state) and those (militants) who will be born today somebody else will face them,” she said.

Mehbooba was apparently responding to the remarks of legislative party leader of opposition National Conference and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had yesterday said, “You talked about my role in creating Burhan Wani when I was the chief minister. Just think how many Wanis have you created under your rule.”