Author: Excelsior Correspondent
Publication: Daily Excelsior
Date: December 24, 2006
URL: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/06dec24/news.htm#1
Two more families of ultra, consisting of
13 members, and eight other trained militants, surrendered before the army
in Kupwara district after their return from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
We were leading a painful life in the camps
set up across the border in the PoK, the militants said after their surrender.
They said the militants from other countries
and different cities of Pakistan were torturing the Kashmiri youths mentally
and physically.
The Kashmiri youths, still in these camps,
were being suspected as " Mukhbirs" (Indian informers) by these
militants, said Sageer Ahmad who surrendered along with his wife, four sons
and a daughter.
Sageer said he and other Kashmiri youths were
taken to PoK for arms training by different militant organisations after threatening
their families. Initially everything was normal in the camps, where militants
were being given arms training. However, after Kashmiri youths surrendered
themselves, things started changing, he said.
"We were not being fed properly and often
abushed by the organisers of the camps," he said.
Sageer said several Kashmiri youths married
to girls of PoK after they found it almost impossible to return back to their
homes here.
"Our repeated pleas to allow us to cross
over to Kashmir valley was turned down by the leaders, who live lavish lives
with facilities for them and their family members, the surrendered ultras
said.
The militants further said "after a long
wait, we finally got contact with the defence authorities here through our
family members in Valley and after getting a green signal from here, we crossed
over to this side from PoK in this sector and surrendered before the army."
Bashir Ahmad, his wife, three daughters and
one son were also among the members of the group who laid down their arms.
Eight other militants also surrendered on
this occasion.
We want to live a normal life as we are fed
up with the violence, they said adding we were also feeling home sick there.
They said a large number of Kashmiri youths
in different camps wanted to return back here and lead a normal life.
The surrendered militants said training camps
across the border are still intact and youths from different countries and
cities of Pakistan are given arms training. However, they said recruitment
of Kashmiri youths in militant outfits has come down as they (outfits) find
it difficult to get youths from the Valley.
Brigadier Manjit Singh who was present on
the occasion of surrender said those who surrender will be given all assistance
to lead a honourable and peaceful life.
They will be provided all benefits as per
the surrender policy of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, he said.
Brigadier Singh said it was a welcome trend
as more militants wanted to join the national mainstream as they realised
that the 17 year long violence had brought only death and destruction.
He said feelers from other militants, still
in PoK, are also approaching the army and other security force agencies that
they too wanted to surrender.
Superintending Police Handwara, Dr Haseeb
Mughal said that this group was carried to Nowgam where a home-coming function
was organised for them, today, which was attended by around 500 local people
who lauded the efforts of police and Army.
He revealed that among the surrendered persons,
the first one had crossed LoC in 1991 and the last one to go had crossed over
in 2001. Among the children the oldest one is eight years old while as the
youngest one is of six months.
He disclosed that utmost care was being taken,
so that no harm is done to these people.
The disarmed militants have been identified
as Mohammed Shameem Sofi S/o Bashir Ahmed Sofi R/o Pattan, Ghulam Nabi Bhat
S/o Ghulam Mohammed Bhat R/o Goripora Bomai Sopore, Gulzar Ahmed Peer S/o
Mohammed Abdullah R/o Gund Machar Sogam, Gulab-ud-Din S/o Late Mohammed Din
Sheikh R/o Jabla Uri, Mohammed Sageer S/o Late Ahsam Din R/o Gohlan Uri, Bashir
Ahmed S/o Mohammed Yameen R/o Singtoon Hall Jabla Uri and Monga Shiekh S/o
Mohammed Sharief R/o Deni Tangdar.
While as the ladies and children have been
identified as Shaheena Akhter W/o Mohammed Sageer R/o Gohlan Uri and their
five children namely Naveed (10), Mujahid (8), Hamza (6), Yasir (4), Abu Musa
5 months and Shaheena Akhter W/o Bashir Ahmed R/O Pattan and their four children
namely Zaheeena Akhter (10), Shakeela (8), Kouser (4), and Aali Bashir 10
months.
Four AK 56 rifles, four Magazines, Forty rounds
of ammunition, three pistols and magazines with 15 rounds of ammunition, one
wireless set, one mobile with Pakistani SIM, three ID Cards and one driving
license.
