Author: Excelsior Special Correspondent
Publication: The Daily Excelsior
Date: April 18, 2004
URL: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/04apr18/news.htm#6
In a major setback to militancy
in Jammu region, 21 top militants today surrendered before the Army at
Delta Force headquarters at Batote in Doda district.
This was the biggest ever surrender
in Doda district, official sources said.
The surrendered militants belonged
to Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfit,
they said, adding the militants were involved in a series of subversive
activities across Doda and Udhampur districts.
The surrendered militants handed
over 12 AK rifles, one sniper rifle, one SLR, two pistols, two wireless
sets, 17 hand grenades and a large quantity of ammunition.
Surrender by 21 militants in just
a one go has further broken the back-bone of already crippling militancy
in Doda district, the sources said.
This was the second major surrender
ceremony after PDP-led coalition Government announced a rehabilitation
policy for the militants in February this year. Under the policy, a militant
will get Rs 1.5 lakh worth Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs), which can be
encashed after three years provided that the militant leads a normal life
and Rs 2000 monthly stipend for sustenance.
Within few days of the rehabilitation
policy, seven top Hizbul Mujahideen militants had surrendered in Kathua
before Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Sharma.
The militants surrendered before
senior Army officers at Delta Force headquarters. The Army officers accepted
the surrendre one by one.
It may be recalled that the militants
were scheduled to surrender before the Army and state police chief at Doda
last week. However, the police chief had to cancel his visit due to attack
on a PDP rally at Uri in which two Ministers were injured and about a dozen
persons were killed.
The surrendered militants are Mohd
Ishaq Gujjar alias Darda, Mohd Ishad Gujjar alias Samsher, Mohd Shafi alias
Badshah Khan, Abdul Wahid alias Danish, Ibrahim Naik alias Firdous, Izaz
Ahmed Naik alias Izar Mada, Mohd Sultan alias Sultan Ganja, Zahoor Ahmed
Sheikh, Jaap Mohd alias Naydeen, Mohd Iqbal Bhat alias Zuber, Istraq Ahmed
Naik alias Sabzaar, Imtiaz Ahmed alias Abu Qasim son of Subhan Bhat and
Abzir Hussain alias Shahib Afghani son of Talib Hussain Zargar.
Other surrendered militants are
Mohd Ismail alias Abu Safayan son of Mohd Ayub, Riaz Ahmed alias Mansoor
son of Mohd Rafiq Wani, Aijaz Ahmed alias Zubair son of Abdul Aziz, Mohd
Iqbal alias Abu Sahib son of Abdul Gani, Mohd Rafiq alias Suleman son of
Abdul Rashid, Abdul Malik alias Abu Sarbeni son of Hali Noor Mohd, Shabir
Ahmed alias Faidullah son of Mohd Sharief, Mohd Hussain alias Abu Abrar
son of Noor Mohd Kajab and Ghulam Hussain alias Juber.
Sources said Mohd Ishaq Gujjar alias
Darda was a close associate of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Paploo. He was
trained in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Other surrendered militants
were also top activists of LeT, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen
outfits, the sources said.
After surrender, the militants told
Army officers that they were fed up with the excesses being committed on
the local people by the foreign mercenaries. They said they have also realised
futility of the gun culture.
Sources indicated that some more
surrenders in Doda and Udhampur districts are in the offing. They hoped
that the militants will take a lesson from today's surrender and come forward
to lay down arms and live a normal life.
