Two newly-recruited militants were made to surrender during an encounter in south Kashmir’s Kulgam on Wednesday. The action was hailed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti.
The duo, identified as Kafeel Ahmad Mir from Mirpora of Kulgam’s Qaimoh area and Nadeem Abbas Bhat from Reshipora of Kulgam’s Qaimoh area, were encircled by a joint team of the security forces, including the police and the Army, around 1 a.m. in Hadigam village, Kulgam. Around 2.30 a.m., the search party came under fire from the hiding militants.
“As the identity of the trapped terrorists got ascertained, the joint team showed utmost restraint and provided the trapped terrorists an opportunity to surrender. Their family members were called to the encounter site to persuade them to surrender. After repeated surrender appeals made by their parents, police and security forces, both the trapped terrorists finally surrendered,” the police said.
An Army spokesman said both the militants surrendered after the morning prayers.
“Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition and other war-like substances, have been recovered from their possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” the police said.
According to the police, the terrorists were part of a recently recruited module of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. “These youth were brainwashed and tasked to carry out anti-national activities and killings at the behest of the LeT,” the police said.
Plea to parents
Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar appealed to the parents to keep a strict vigil on their wards to prevent them from indulging in any anti-national activities, especially joining the terror ranks. “If every parent persuades and appeals to their terrorist sons to shun the path of violence, be it soon after joining terror ranks or during the time they are trapped during live encounters, many lives can be saved as two lives were saved in today’s encounter,” Mr. Kumar said.
PDP president Ms. Mufti also praised the security forces. “Two lives saved thanks to the efforts of their families and the support extended by security forces. These kind of efforts must be continued so that youngsters who join militancy are given a second chance to live their lives,” she said.
