* Army analyses offer, not averse to move
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 25: Army’s major offensive against militants including top commanders of various outfits in the Kashmir has started bringing desired results with nearly half of 30 fresh recruits from the Valley getting fed up within few months of their sojourn to the “world of violence”and sending feelers either directly or through their family members to the Army for surrender.
“The Army’s decision to go for kill through ‘Operation All Out’ in which large number of militants including dreaded commanders like Abu Dujana have been eliminated, is reported to have panicked majority of the fresh recruits of the militancy as well as their family members, who were now knocking doors of security forces for mercy and accept their surrender,” official sources told the Excelsior.
They said the “shortened life span of militants” including their commanders after security forces started their massive search operations in the entire Kashmir valley to flush out the militants was another major reason behind disenchantment of the fresh recruits from militancy and their desire to return to mainstream.
“The new phenomenon (feelers for surrender within months, or in some cases, within days of joining militancy by fresh recruits) was the result of a completely new kind of policy pursued by the Centre Government to go all out against the militants active in Kashmir valley and prevent fresh infiltration from the Line of Control (LoC),” sources noted.
Elaborating, sources said that as per very credible inputs, 30 local youths from the Valley, majority from South Kashmir, had joined militancy this year on being motivated by militants, their sympathizers and some other disgruntled elements. Though figures of some agencies showed number of local youths, who had taken to arms, as higher than 30, sources maintained that it was not higher than 30 as was being mentioned.
However, within months or days of joining the militancy, sources said, at least half of the fresh recruits themselves, or through their family members, have sent feelers to Army and police that they were now repenting having chose the path of violence and offered themselves of surrender “at an appropriate time” on the ground that they don’t want to be exposed before their commanders for the fear of either being killed or held hostage.
Describing the development as “quite significant”, sources said security forces were not averse to accept the offer of surrender by the local recruits but they want to be sure from all quarters that the youths have actually fed up with the militancy and won’t re-join it after the surrender.
“Various offers of surrender are being pursued by security forces. The Intelligence agencies have also been involved in it. A decision would be taken after total authentication of reports,” they added.
Sources pointed out that Army authorities have already made it clear that they were ready to accept surrender of local militants but for that they have to be completely sure that there was no trap in it. They said that the troops had even given time to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Abu Dujana to surrender but he didn’t avail the opportunity and was killed.
According to sources, family members of some of the fresh recruits have also approached various security agencies demanding that their kin shouldn’t be killed as they were ready to give up violence and were waiting for an opportunity to surrender. They were of the view that the fresh recruits have been kept under surveillance by the militant commanders and it could take time for them to escape and return to the mainstream.
Sources said security and Intelligence agencies were carrying out detailed study on total number of fresh recruits, who have joined the militancy this year, number of those killed, arrested or surrenders and those, who were still in the militancy. At least 14 to 15 local militants including some from South Kashmir, have sent feelers for the surrender, which were being analyzed.
Security forces and Intelligence agencies were also trying to find out the way as to how the local recruits can be brought out of the militancy without getting noticed by their commanders, who could harm them if they become aware that freshers want to return to the mainstream.
Follow our WhatsApp channel