More mothers appeal to ‘militant’ sons to return in Kashmir

SRINAGAR:Two distraught mothers in Kashmir have come out with video messages urging their militant sons to return home, hoping for are union like that of a popular footballer who surrendered last week.

In her message, mother of Ir fan Ah mad Rather, a resident of Shariafabad in south Kashmir, has asked her son to come back home at the earliest.

“For God’s sake come back. Have pity on me. Remember how I nursed you? Why don’t you remember my sufferings? I will do anything for you. Come back, my Irfan,” she says in the video widely shared on social media on Tuesday.

Shariafabad is the village of HizbulMuja hide en militant Burha nW ani,w how a skilled by security forces in July 2016. The death of Wani, a social-media savvy militant, plunged the Valley into a spiral of violence. Some young boys are believed to have followed in his footsteps to join militant ranks.

A Class 12 student, Rather, believed to be in his teens, went missing more than a month ago to join home-grown militant outfit the Hizbul Mujahideen, police said. “His mother has appealed, we are also trying for his return ,” Awantipora superintendent of police Mohammad Zaid said.

The second message is for Sajad Ahmad Shah, who hails from north Kashmir’s Handwara. Shah’s mother has asked him to shun the gun for the sake of his new-born son, his ill father and two unmarried sisters. Shah went missing on October 8 after visiting his shop in Langate.

Phone calls and messages to Handwara superintendent of policeGulamJee lani for his reaction went unanswered.

In a renewed push, security officials are asking families and friends to encourage local boys to return to the mainstream.

Talking to Hindu stan Times on Monday, J&K top police officer SP Vaid promised to take a lenient view of militants looking to give up violence.

Kashmiri as well foreign militants are active in the Valley and security forces have made it clear outsiders will be dealt with sternly.

For God’s sake come back. Have pity on me. Remember how I nursed you? Why don’t you remember my sufferings? I will do anything for you. Come back AN APPEAL BY MOTHER OF MILITANT IRFAN AHMAD RATHER