Jammu, April 17
Twentytwo dreaded terrorists operating in Doda district today surrendered before Army and police officials.
These extremists were operating in the area for the past five or eight years. Eleven of them had received training at various camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Most of them belonged to the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.
The surrendering militants said they had decided to lay down their arms due to lack of support from across the border and a growing disenchantment with the concept of jihad.
Three of the militants were 16 years of age,
carrying AK-56, AK-47 and SLR rifles.
An official spokesman said these terrorists would be eligible for incentives under the state government’s policy for surrendering militants that includes a fixed deposit of Rs 1.50 lakh per person and a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000. They would also be provided vocational training free of cost.
One of the Terrorists Mohammad Shaffi, alias Badshah Khan, said he had joined the Hizbul- Mujahideen in 1996 and was trained in PoK. He had risen to the rank of “battalion commander” of the outfit, operating in the Gulabgarh area.
Mohammad Ishaq Gujjar, alias Darda, 23, was operating in the Zeradi area of Banihal and was allegedly involved in the killing of civilians, extortions and IED blasts.
Mohammad Ismail (16 was recruited by the Laskhar-e-Toiba last year and was trained in the handling of various types of arms and ammunition at a camp at Bahli-Banjowalh in Kisthwar tehsil.
