Jammu, June 11
For 22-year old Abdul Majid, the six-month search for safety against threats of elimination by militants ended when he received an order for recruitment in the police.
Since January 2005, Abdul Majid had been chased by militants operating in Rajouri district of Jammu.
His fault: He assisted the security forces in eliminating six dreaded militants in Rajouri in 1998. This act earned him the national award for bravery in 2000. Later also he continued to help the security forces in their anti-insurgency operations by providing them specific information regarding the plans and hide-outs of militants.
When the threat perception increased, Majid stopped visiting his parents at Lamberi village in Rajouri. Several months ago, he received another threat that in case he did not join militant outfit, his parents would be eliminated.
During the last six months he approached the people in power in Delhi and in Jammu, requesting them for a job in the police so that he could fight militants, But his pleas went unheeded.
His dream of fighting militants in police uniform was realised when he received appointment letter from the Director-General Police, Mr Gopal Sharma, three days ago.
A brief profile of Abdul Majid and his problem was telecast by a private news channel. A Deputy Inspector-General of the police collected details about him and submitted it to the Director-General police.
Mr Gopal Sharma took personal interest and after going through the case issued an appointment letter recruiting him as a constable. Abdul Majid told mediamen here today that he would remain indebted to Mr Sharma for giving him a chance to serve the state.
He said: “Mr Sharma is an angel for me and my
posting in Rajouri is another gift from the Director-General of the police.”
A satisfied person, he said: “I shall be able to fight militants with a gun in my hand. Even if I lose my life I shall have no regrets because I will have the satisfaction that I have served my country.”
He said: “I did not want to get killed by militants without giving a fight.”
He said a large number of youths not only in Rajouri but in other areas of the state were ready to help the security agencies provided they were recruited in the police.
A senior police officer was of the opinion that “had counter-insurgents, who had announced a war against rebels since 1993, been recruited to the police and paramilitary forces we could expect better results from the anti-insurgency operations.”
He said initially these counter-insurgents were “patronised and protected” by the security agencies and were later disowned by them under political pressure which resulted in elimination of scores of top counter insurgents. Others were forced to flee from the state and yet many other rejoined militant outfits.
Abdul Majid said: “There are many Majids in the state. It is upto the police to cultivate them for result-oriented anti-insurgency operations.”
