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| Army succeeds in freeing Kither of militancy | | | Sajid Tufail
Doda | Apr 15
After fifteen years of militancy Kither a remote village of Bhalessa, in Distt Doda has been rescued from the grip of militants. Kither was under direct influence of the militants and it was presumed that Kither was militants’ area since 90s. It is situated at a height of 2300 mts above sea level and is touching boundaries with Padder in Kishtwar district in North and Himachal Pardesh in South and South East and Bhadarwah in South West and Kishtwar main city in North West having 120 houses and a population of 2000 souls in small hamlets.
In 1990, when militancy started the militants’ organizations Al-Jehad, HM, Harkat-Ul-Ansar and then now LeT selected this hill as their base camp for training of new recruits and to carry out their operations in almost all the tehsils of Jammu Province.
Due to difficult topography of the area it was almost inaccessible to security forces to launch operations in the area. In 2001 troops of 26RR launched hill down operation to flush out militants but the operation was failed and resulted in the casualties of 11 army personals. In 2002 till 2007 the same troops remained engaged to flush out militants but once again failed and suffered 8-10 casualties as told by army spokesman.
During this period barbarism was on its high peak and 14 civilians were killed out of which nine belonged to single family including 3 women. Such was the height of barbarism that the hair of one lady was shaved in broad day light and not only this, 8-10 cases of forced marriages were also reported with the girls of the said hamlets. Pupils were forcefully used as porters to carry the food material and luggage for the militants. And such was the fear of militants in the said area that if some one was seen talking to any security forces he was killed brutally as told by one villager Shamas Gujjar with tears rolling down his eyes as his 3 families members were killed.
On February 28 the troops of 26 RR in collaboration with Thathri, Gandoh Kishtwar police in group effort of the villagers conducted Snow Leopard operation from all the sides despite heavy snow fall in this remote village, which resulted in mounting the pressure on the militants during the operation which is still continuing 1 Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahedin Shamim Thool, HM district Doda Commander Mohd Iqbal and HM.tehsil commander Javeed Jat and 4 Lashker-e-Toiba militants were killed and 4 HM militants surrendered while one HM militant was arrested. An Army JCO and three police personals were injured in the encounter.
Meanwhile three army personnel including 2IC of 26RR were critically injured while crossing deep snow trench at Zapak Nalla in Kither.
The villagers appreciated army for freeing them from the threats of the militants. The villagers said that we were harassed by the militants since 90s and killed so many civilians including women during said period.
The army spokesman told Early Times that this operation was not possible without the cooperation of the local villager and further told that pupil of far flung areas are cooperating with security forces and giving appropriate information.
Local villagers told Early Times that the people are now fed up with the militants and are now standing shoulder to shoulder with army in order to eliminate the militants from the hill areas, they also told that they need sophisticated weapons in order to save their loved ones from the strikes of the militants. It is pertinent to mention here that the mobile services also helped in divulging of information as earlier it was difficult to give information to security forces face to face. Now while sitting at home we deliver the information about the presence of militants in the area which is resulting in several successful operations told by a local villager.
An old aged Gujjar told that during 15 years of militancy we suffered lot and were just toys as both security forces and militants were harassing we peoples, when ever both of these army or militants get any damage we were the target of atrocities .Our mistake is that we are poor peoples living in the upper reaches in order to feed our cattle's only mean of lively hood. Now we hope we will get sigh of relief.
The poor villagers demanded that special army and police recruitment should be organized by the government in order to provide job opportunities to the youths & thereby to save the villagers from the anti nationalist elements.
More surrender cases are expected in near days told by police officials. Local support has come to end to the militants earlier it was easy to move freely in the upper reaches but now very difficult as peoples are not cooperating narrated by a surrender militants at 26RR head quarter Thathri during surrender ceremony .Doors are open for those who want to join main stream & special recruitment soon will be organized in District Doda told by Army officials. |
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