Srinagar- Two recently-recruited local Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants surrendered before the government forces during an encounter in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday, officials said.
The encounter broke out in the Hadigam area of the south Kashmir district during the night, police said.
“During the #encounter, 02 local terrorists #surrendered on the #appeal of their parents and police. #Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition recovered,” the Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-based Defence PRO Colonel Emron Musavi said after it was ascertained that both the militants were newly-recruited locals and their families were desperate to get them back into the mainstream, the security forces showed restraint and did not engage them in a gunbattle despite being under fire.
“The militants were kept confined in the house with utmost restraint displayed by the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police. The families of both terrorists were brought to the encounter site to appeal for their surrender.
“Repeated surrender appeals were made by the parents and security forces till the morning. Both terrorists finally surrendered by laying down their arms. They were subsequently handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir police. Warlike stores were also recovered from their possession,” the PRO said.
He said the militants have been identified as Nadeem Abbas Bhat, a resident of Reshipura, Qaimoh, and Kafeel Mir, a resident of Mirpura, Qaimoh, who were part of a recently-recruited module of the LeT.
“These youngsters were brainwashed and tasked with carrying out anti-national activities and killings at the behest of the LeT and the ISI. Security forces remain committed to encouraging misguided youngsters to lay down arms and facilitating their return from the path of terrorism,” Colonel Musavi said.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti lauded the security forces and the two militants’ family members, who persuaded them to lay down arms and surrender.
She said such efforts should continue in order to give a second chance to those youngsters who have joined militant ranks.
“Two lives saved thanks to the efforts of their families and the support extended by security forces. These kinds of efforts must be continued so that youngsters who join militancy are given a second chance to live their lives,” the PDP president said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said many lives can be saved if every parent appeals to their children, who have joined militant ranks, to shun the path of violence.
“If every parent #appeal to their #terrorist sons to shun the path of #violence, whether they are trapped during live #encounters or have joined the #terrorism, many lives can be saved as in today’s encounter two lives were saved,” the IGP wrote on Twitter.
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