Author: Zaffar Iqbal/Ramesh Bali
Publication: NDTV
Date: July 30, 2006
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Ceasefire&slug=J%26K+children+enlisted+for+terror+attacks&id=90778&callid=1&category=National
There is a new disturbing trend emerging among
militant groups, as they enlist children to carry out terror attacks in Jammu
and Kashmir.
Recently a 14-year-old boy Tipu was arrested
for a grenade attack at a bus stand in the heart of Jammu that killed one
person and left dozens wounded.
NDTV: How much money was given to you for
throwing a grenade?
Tipu: I was given Rs 1000 for one throwing
one grenade. The training given to me was that I was told couple of times
how to throw a grenade, how to take out pin its and then throw it.
NDTV: Who told you?
Tipu: Abu Arbaz told me.
NDTV: Where does he live?
Tipu: He is a militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba
and lives in Pakistan.
Tipu's questioning revealed another startling
fact that even policemen and Army soldiers are working for militants.
Jawans under scanner
Based on his information two policemen and
two army jawans were picked up for questioning from Gursai village of Poonch
district.
Mother of Shakeel Ahmad, a jawan in the Indian
Army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry unit, cannot still believe that her
son is under suspicion for supporting militants.
"He is serving in the army for the last
11 years, he was here for 13 months after his brother died before joining
back the duty. He has not returned ever since and we haven't seen him ever
since," said Motian Bi, Ahmad's mother.
Also in deep shock is the family of Abdul
Haq, another jawan picked up for questioning.
He has been in the Army for 12 years. But
the army believes it is only an aberration and should not be taken as a trend.
"I don't think this incident will have
an impact, an isolated incident does not make for the rest of the people branded
in any fashion at all, it's one of those aberrations which may have come about.
We need corrective measures to sort it out," said GoC in C Lt. Gen Deepak
Kapoor.
The militants are using new tactics and deploying
people who are generally above suspicion to carry out militant activities.
Clearly it's a disturbing trend and the job
of detecting these people would be a challenging task for the security forces.
