As many as 551 militants have surrendered before different authorities in Jammu and Kashmir since the implementation of the new surrender policy in the state in 2004,Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the State Assembly on Wednesday. Giving this information in a written reply to a question put up by Sakina Itoo of the National Conference (NC) in the House,the Chief Minister,however,said none of the surrendered ultras has been provided a government job. On the steps taken for providing safe passage to the misguided youth of the state who are willing to join the mainstream after returning from the other side of the LoC,Omar said the matter is under consideration of the State Government. In reply to another question by Shameem Firdous of NC,the Chief Minister said it is not a fact that relatives of persons accused of or involved in militant activities are facing hardships in obtaining Home department NOCs for preparation of various documents. The procedure for grant of NOCs from the Home department has been streamlined so as to ensure that undue hardships are avoided in the case of those travelling for genuine reasons,he said.
