Kashmiri footballer who joined LeT returns home, surrenders to security forces

SRINAGAR: A 20-year-old footballer from Kashmir, who had joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) a week ago, surrendered before the security forces, said officials on Friday.

Anantnag's 20-year-old footballer Majid Khan who joined LeT recently and surrendered before security forces in Kashmir pic.twitter.com/CPq0TcjGjV — ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2017

"It was a very brave decision by Majid Khan, I compliment him and assure that he will be able to get back to normal life very soon," Major General BS Raju told ANI.

It was a very brave decision by Majid Khan, I compliment him and assure that he will be able to get back to normal life very soon: Major General BS Raju pic.twitter.com/dHz4qZU4nX — ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2017

On Thursday night, Khan walked into a security camp in south Kashmir and surrendered with his arms and ammunition.

The 20-year-old college student was a goalkeeper for the local football team in Anantnag. He is believed to have turned to militancy following a close friend was killed in an encounter.

Meanwhile, police were constant touch with his friends and family members. They asked them to insist Khan to return home.

You seriously expected Lashkar to say he was in their group? What are you saying, they kill people and then don't own up how will they acknowledge this?: Munir Khan, IGP on #MajidKhan pic.twitter.com/SdSSsYq1a0 — ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2017

The surrender follows appeals by his parents and Jammu and Kashmir Police. His parents had gone on television and social media to ask him to surrender.

A video showing his mother Asiya Khan crying and asking him to come home went viral on social media.

(With inputs from agencies)