Poonch (J and K), June 15 (ANI): The Indian Army has arrested a militant in the Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch District as he was attempting to enter India.
According to media reports, Mukhtiar Ahmed, who was accompanied by his wife and three children, was arrested while he was trying to enter India from the Deridepsi area in Mendhar.
Ahmed was handed over to the police after preliminary investigations.
Ahmed said that he had decided to return to his home and lead a peaceful life.
"Now, I want to live my life peacefully and like a common man. I also want to stay away from all the ammunitions," said Ahmed.
The father of the arrested militant, Haji Manzoor Hussain, said his son was nabbed by militants in 2002.
"He had gone over there (Pakistan) in 2002. He was just 13-years-old when militants had taken him away while he was returning from his school. When I came to know, I got him married in 2003, in Pakistan, and I did not allow him to go back. I had called his in-laws, and then, they came and took him away. Since then, he was living there only," said Hussain.
Ahmed also briefed the mediapersons about the camps which are currently operating.
"There are three camps in Kotli where I used to live. There is less of work being done as compared to earlier days," Ahmed added.
He also said that around 300 to 400 militants were undergoing training with the aim of fighting against India for an independent Kashmir.
"They used to say that we should fight against the army and India and we will continue to fight for independence of Kashmir as it is our part. There are around 300 to 400 people in some important areas," he stated.
The restive region of Kashmir has witnessed numerous militant attacks, insurgency, and infiltration attempts from across the border in the last two decades.
The Himalayan region is one of the world's most militarised zones, with India deploying more than 1.3 million troops to quell the rebellion that triggered off in 1989.(ANI)