Valley’s local militants can still surrender, say forces
SRINAGAR: Security forces in Kashmir on Monday reiterated that the door for local militants to surrender is open even as police paraded three militants arrested recently in front of the media to drive home the point.
Inspector general of police, Kashmir range, Muneer Ahmed Khan told reporters in Srinagar that security forces would facilitate the surrender of local militants who want to lay down arms and join the mainstream.
“Even during encounters if they (local militants) come up with their arms up and want to surrender we will take their surrender. Kyun ki woh hamare apne log hain (they are our own people). We will continue with this policy (of facilitating surrenders),” Khan said at the joint press conference by police, CRPF and army.
Zulfiquar Hasan, inspector general of police (operations) of the CRPF in Kashmir said, “The local militants who came in front of us during our operations, we have accepted their surrender.”
In another direct appeal to militants, Hasan said, “I request Kashmiri militants that you come back to the mainstream and we will go a hundred steps to rehabilitate you, to take care of your future and ensure your safety.”
The officers did not specify what would be the response of security forces if a foreign militant wanted to surrender.
Three out of four local militants who were apprehended in recent operations by security forces in connection to two different terror activities were paraded in front of the media at the press conference.
Khurshid Ahmad Dar and Haziq Rather of the Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) are alleged to have tried to snatch weapons from security guards of a protected person on Saturday.
“On October 14, two terrorists fired few rounds in Qazigund area with the intention to snatch weapons of personal security guards of a protected person.But they had to retreat due to the hue and cry raised by the locals,” Khan said.
An over ground worker (OGW) of the Hizbul Mujahedeen, Rameez Itto, has been arrested for his role in helping militants carry out an attack on a police vehicle on Saturday, in which a police driver lost his life.