Three nights ago, Majid Khan walked into a security camp and turned himself in.
Two days after young footballer Majid Khan, who had recently joined the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, returned home in Kashmir following his mother's pleading for his homecoming, another mother wants her son back. Encouraged by 20-year-old Majid Khan's "change of mind", Jawahra Begum of Drabgam in Pulwama district has made public appeal to terrorist groups beseeching that her son Manzoor Ahmad be allowed to return home.
Twenty-year-old Manzoor had reportedly joined Hizbul Mujahideen two weeks ago. "If he is with any organisation please allow him to come back. For God's sake allow him to go. I'm shattered and crestfallen, I have no other support," said Jawahra Begum.
A photograph on Whatsapp showing Majid with an assault rifle had prompted his mother Ashiya Begum to make a tearful appeal for her son's return. "I am waiting for him. I want him to return... I want him to play football again," his mother had wept in the video.
After the video went viral, thousands on social media appealed to him to abandon militancy and come back.
Three nights ago, after a phone call to his family, Majid walked into a security camp and turned himself in. Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed that they allowed Majid to go after his distraught mother's appeal.
He will not be charged, the police said, informing that he will resume college and football.
His homecoming has rekindled hope for Manzoor's family and mothers whose sons left home to join terrorist groups in the Valley and outside. The army and police have also urged local terrorists to follow his footsteps and quit militancy.
"I also look at it as a great example for other parents whose kids have gone out to make their appeal. We appeal to all local militants to follow Majid's footsteps," said Maj Gen BS Raju, GOC victor Force.
The security agencies are setting up helplines to facilitate homecoming of local terrorists who are willing to quit violence.