India is assessing offering young Kashmiri militants a getaway from a life of violence by temporarily resettling them in more peaceful parts of the country, according to the top military commander in the Kashmir Valley.
Lieutenant General B.S. Raju disclosed the plan for a new scheme to offer a way out of militancy during a telephone interview from Srinagar.
He told Reuters that recommendations had been submitted to the Centre and that the plan, while not finalised, was in an advanced stage.
“These are young boys who need to be taken care of for a period of time,” Lt. Gen. Raju said, adding that could involve temporarily settling them outside of Jammu and Kashmir.
Past efforts to persuade fighters to put down their guns have had mixed success. But Lt. Gen. Raju said the military had recommended the scheme take a longer-term approach to rehabilitating ex-militants.
“The bottom line is that it will have a structure that will help and give confidence to the people who are opting to surrender,” Lt. Gen. Raju said.
Lt. Gen. Raju said militant attacks have dropped by nearly 40% compared to last year.
