Surrendered a week ago, but footballer not yet home

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, November 23

A week after Anantnag footballer-turned-militant gave himself up before the security forces, Majid Irshad Khan is yet to return home.

After a brief rendezvous with militancy and appeals by his family to return home, Majid gave himself in before security forces in Anantnag on November 16.

His only public appearance since has been during a press conference at Army’s Victor Force headquarters in Awantipora on November 17.

Wearing a black ‘pherun’ and a skull cap, pulled well below his ears, a sombre Majid was presented before mediapersons for less than a minute. The only words he spoke at the press conference were “theek hun (I am good)” to Inspector General of Police Munir Khan’s question, “Kaise ho? (How are You?).”

Majid’s father, Irshad Khan, said he was yet to be back home.

“He is still with the security forces,” Irshad said, adding, “I went to meet him a few days back. He is good and healthy.”

He said he did not ask the security forces about the release of his son. “The important thing is my son was alive and healthy,” he said, adding, “His mother too met him a few days ago and she too is happy that Majid is in good shape.”

He said, “I believe he will be with the family soon.”

The IGP said care should be taken by everybody not to jeopardise Majid’s security by asking too many questions about his whereabouts. “He is not in detention and we can say he is with his family,” Khan said, adding that arrangements for him to continue his studies were being made.