Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: Reiterating that security forces uphold human rights when conducting Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs), GOC Northern Commander Y K Joshi on Monday said that militants are given multiple opportunities to surrender even during live encounters.
Lt Gen Joshi also urged local militants to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream. "We again urge militants who are holding guns to surrender and come back to the mainstream. We will provide them support to lead a normal life," Lt Gen Joshi said at Manasbal in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, where a function was organized to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of 'Homecoming' of local 'misguided youth'.
The Northern Commander also reiterated that parents have an important role to play, in ensuring that their children do not follow the path of violence, which only brings pain and misery, not only for the ones who join militancy, but also their immediate and extended families.
"It was due to the efforts of the Army that we are alive and living honourable lives now," surrendered youths, who were once militants, said.
They said 23 years ago when they were very young, they had joined militancy after being lured and misled by some people. "We were given a chance to surrender and lead a normal life by the Army," they said.
Lt Gen Joshi said security forces are in the valley to save the lives of civilians. "We have a clear policy to give a second chance to militants to surrender," he said, adding many youth were saved after they were allowed to surrender even during live encounters with security forces.
"We want minimum loss and minimum collateral damage during the encounters," he said, adding those who surrender will not only be saved but they will be integrated into main stream.
"Accept the guilt and surrender. We have clear directions to security forces on the ground to uphold human rights," he said.
"We are celebrating the 23rd anniversary of the rescue operation of 23 young men by the Army in the border town of Gurez in north Kashmir district of Bandipora," the Army commander said.
"They were saved and allowed to join their families. They were forced to take up arms and join a cycle of violence and become militants. But we saved them," he said, adding they are now with their family and loved ones.
Defence ministry spokesman Col Emron Musavi said the Army is celebrating the 23rd anniversary of the rescue operation of 23 young men by the Army in the border town of Gurez in north Kashmir district of Bandipora, when they were trying to cross over to the other side of the LoC.
"These young boys were being compelled into a path of militancy through false promises by a fellow Kashmiri by the name of Abdul Hamid alias Bambar Khan, a resident of Ganderbal, into joining militant ranks and were being taken to POK. Over a period of 10 days from August 4 to August 14, 1998, Bambar Khan, with the help of local OGWs, had collected these 23 young boys, all within 18 years of age, either by force or through radicalization and had kept them in the dense jungles of Ajas," he said.
"The group moved across the Shamsha Bari range into Gurez Tulail Valley, with the aim of going across the LoC into POK. They were then to be trained there in militant activities and thereafter reinfiltrate into Kashmir and indulge in militant acts, at the behest of the masterminds in Pakistan," he said.
However, he said on August 23, 1998, information was received by the Brigade Headquarters that a large number of youth were seen in the jungles near the Kishenganga River. "An operation was launched. It was led by (then Captain) and now Brigadier Budhwar. This group of youths was sighted in the lower reaches of the forest. The soldiers held fire, as the militants accompanying these youths, had run away taking cover of the thick foliage and vegetation. These young boys on seeing the Indian Army soldiers shouted for help and immediately surrendered. The troops quickly took control of the situation and helped them to cross the river, which was in spate and escorted them to Gurez, where they were medically examined and were given food, water and warm beds to sleep," Col Musavi said.
Thereafter, he said they were brought to Headquarter of 15 Corps in Badami Bagh cantonment and were reunited with their parents.
"The rescued boys, are now leading normal, happy lives and are married and have families of their own, with children, who themselves nurture dreams of having successful carriers, and being responsible citizens of the country," he said.
He said to commemorate this day, an event was organised at Manasbal lake, wherein, the rescued individuals, along with their families attended the event.
Lieutenant General DP Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps, and other senior civil and military officials, also attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, the Army Commander said that the youth on the path of militancy will be given a second chance to come back and integrate with their families and join the mainstream and lead a normal life, like these individuals had done, two decades back.
He said the Army is steadfast in its resolve of ethical conduct and ensuring full support to those who want to leave the path of violence. |
