SRINAGAR: After a concerted effort from the families of terrorists as well the security forces, who were engaged in an encounter with them, two newly recruited Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists decided to surrender in Kulgam district. The security forces also showed restraint despite being under heavy fire, the forces said.
The encounter happened in the Hadigam area of the south Kashmir district during the night, the police said. However, the joint efforts from security forces and the families of the terrorists saw them heeding the appeal of their parents to surrender.
Police identified the two youths as Kafeel Ahmad Mir, son of Javid Ahmad Mir and a resident of Mirpora Qaimoh, and Nadeem Abbas Bhat, son of Mohammad Abbas Bhat and resident of Reshipora Qaimoh. It was also learnt that the duo had joined the terrorist outfit only recently.
“During the #encounter, 02 local terrorists #surrendered on the #appeal of their parents & police. #Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition recovered. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice (sic),” Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said in another tweet; “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: IGP Kashmir @JmuKmrPolice.”
“Based on specific input generated by Police about the presence of terrorists in the general area of village Hadigam, Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and Army (9RR) in the said area,” police said. “They fired indiscriminately upon the search party which retaliated leading to an encounter.”
Giving the young terrorists a second opportunity, the security forces called their families to convince the terrorists to surrender.
“As the identity of the trapped terrorists got ascertained, the joint team showed utmost restraint and provided the trapped terrorists with an opportunity to surrender,” police said. “Their family members were also called to the encounter site to motivate and persuade them to surrender. After repeated appeals made by their parents, police and security forces, the trapped terrorists finally surrendered.”
As per police records, police said: “The duo were part of a recently recruited module of proscribed terror outfit LeT,” police said. “These youth were brainwashed and tasked to carry out anti-national activities and killings at the behest of the LeT terror outfit,” they added.