A group of masked Kashmiri men sit before their surrender at a garrison in Rampur, 84 km (53 miles) west of Srinagar April 20, 2007. A group of 24 Kashmiri separatist militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen and other militant groups handed over their arms before the authorities during the ceremony, Indian army spokesman said. REUTERS/Yawar Nazir (INDIAN ADMINISTERED KASHMIR)
A Kashmiri woman cries as she hugs her relative after he surrendered in a garrison in Rampur, 84 km (53 miles) west of Srinagar April 20, 2007. A group of 24 Kashmiri separatist militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen and Al-Badar militant organisations handed over their arms before the authorities during the ceremony, Indian army spokesman said
24 Millitants Surrenders
Shujaat Bukhari : From the Hindu
The militants say they feel safe and free in India
# They meet their family members
# `Terrorist infrastructure in Azad Kashmir is intact'
â Photo: AFP
FOR BETTER LIFE: A militant holds a relative's child at a function, where he and 23 others surrendered before the Army, at Rampur, 85 km from Srinagar on Friday.
SRINAGAR: Twenty-four militants surrendered before the General Officer Commanding of 19 Infantry Division Major General Ramesh Halgali in Baramulla on Friday.
Defence spokesman Col. A.K. Mathur said emotional scenes were witnessed as the militants met their family members. Many of them had crossed over to the other side of Line of Control at an early age.
"All of them were forced to cross over to Azad Kashmir six to eight years ago. They joined Jehad by compulsion due to circumstances and not by choice. But they have realised the futility of Jehad. Hundreds of lives have been ruined, families shattered and only darkness engulfs the horizon of Azad Kashmir," the spokesman quoted the militants as saying.
Growing cynicism
They, according to Col. Mathur, unequivocally spoke of growing disillusionment amongst the Kashmir militants. "There is a widening rift between local and foreign militants. They were very forthright in admitting that they feel safe and free in India and want to expose Pakistan's false rhetoric in support of Kashmiris."
In a statement, he said: "They have also confirmed that terrorist infrastructure in Azad Kashmir is intact and flourishing. Pakistan's involvement in abetting militancy in J&K in terms of moral, financial and material support from across the Line of Control remains undiminished".
The surrendered militants owed allegiance to the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, the Tehrik-e-Jehad, the Hizb-e-Islami, and the Kashmir Revolutionary Force.
In the recent past, 146 militants who surrendered in Baramula had gone back to their families across the Valley. "They are gainfully employed in family activities and professional ventures. There has not been a single incident so far, wherein a surrendered militant has reportedly participated in any form of anti-national activity. This provides credence towards their genuine belief of returning to India and thus lead a normal life," he said.
The statement claimed that inputs from the surrendered militants confirmed that the Hizb's supreme commander Syed Salahuddin is losing ground support.
"He [Salahuddin] reportedly visited the training camps in Azad Kashmir to persuade the Hizb cadre against surrenders. However, the groundswell in favour of surrender movement compelled him to think on the lines of ceasefire," he said.
Mods : Is this the right place to post this article? if not please move it.
) with some kind of autonomy for the peoples to move, only those peoples with families in both side of border.
