Mother’s love draws footballer back home from LeT clutches

A week after joining the ranks of banned Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) outfit, a youngster renounced the path of terrorism and surrendered before the security forces to rejoin his family. His mother had made fervent appeals to the trendy youngster Majid Khan, known in the South Kashmir’s Anantnag locality as a football enthusiast, to lay down his arms. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti hailed Khan’s step saying mother’s love prevailed to save the life of the youngster. LeT claimed that Khan was allowed to return to his family.

Khan’s surrender occurred a day after two terrorists were captured during a gunfight in Kund pocket of south Kashmir and provincial police chief Munir Khan renewed his appeal to the Kashmiri terrorists to renounce the path of violence.

Khan had joined LeT on November 9 sending his family in a shock.

His parents, especially the mother made several appeals through the media asking him to lay down his arms. Sources said unarmed Khan walked into an Army base in south Kashmir late Thursday night. 

General Officer Commanding of counterinsurgency Victor Force Maj Gen BS Raju said told reporters that Khan would not be slapped with charges. He said that the army came to know on Thursday evening that Khan wants to return to his family.

“We did what was needed to ensure that the individual was safely brought in. I must tell you that this was the very brave decision taken by this individual keeping in mind his career in academics,” Raju said at a Press conference at Awantipore headquarters of Victor Force.

He said Khan has realised his folly and deserves compliment for “taking a bold decision”.

“We want to assure there will be no charges pressed on him and he is able to get back to normal life soon. We will provide all opportunities to him for pursuing his career and sporting talent,” said Raju, adding Khan’s parents deserved applaud whose appeal and prayers yielded the results.

He appealed to the youngsters who have joined terrorism to follow Khan’s path to shun violence.

Speaking on the occasion, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Munir Khan said Khan’s return was neither arrest nor surrender.

“He has come back to his family on his own. He went on his own to see how it tastes and he came on his own. Of course his parents and friends were instrumental in bringing him back,” Khan said.

Khan’s pictures went viral soon after he joined LeT. Sources said that his close friend was killed in an encounter and he was seen weeping on his body. That was believed to have been the trigger for his joining militancy. Khan was known in the area as a talented goalkeeper and spotted in all local football tournaments.

However, soon after he joined the ranks, his mother Ayesha Khan’s videos also went viral pleading her lone son to return to his home.

“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,” Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti wrote on Twitter.

 She said she understands the predicament of the youth who joined militancy.

 “I understand the predicament of young boys who have strayed into militancy. Most realise the futility of senseless violence & want to return home and live normal lives with dignity,” she wrote on Twitter. 

Majid’s father, Irshad Khan who suffered a minor heart attack after his son’s escapdes, said that he was their only support.

 “I am thankful to everyone who helped us in his return,” he said.

Meanwhile, LeT outfit in a statement said that Majid Khan was permitted to leave for his home on the request of his mother.