The first phase of polling held in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today saw people reject the gun and express their faith in the democratic process. Not only did people from the three constituencies of Surankote, Poonch and Mendhar (that went to poll today) defy the militant dictate for a boycott, but many former militants actively participated in the poll process and caste their votes in hope for a brighter future.
Over 12 former militants cast their vote in Surankote, once considered to be a hot bed of terrorism. Muzamil Khan, a former area commander of the dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) told The Tribune that most militants were disillusioned with the path of violence and realised that they had been “misled” by Pakistan-based security agencies. “We all want to lead normal lives without the fear of death in an encounter haunting us”, he said.
Muzamil, who was one of the first to cast his vote at the Government Middle School, Daraba in the Surankote constituency was barely 15 years old when he was abducted by the HM while he was grazing his cattle. He was forcibly taken to Pakistan, where he was given training in the use of arms and explosives for 9 months before being sent back into India. A year later, in 1997, he was promoted as the area commander.
Today, totally disillusioned with the “false promises” and fed-up with “jihad”, he like many other former militants not only participated in the poll process, but also actively campaigned for one candidate or the other with the hope that once the next government is in place, all such former militants would be rehabilitated. Muzamil was an active campaigner for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mumtaz Bhukhari.
Many militants, who crossed over into Pakistan have families both in India and Pakistan. They feel that once a democratically elected government comes to power, it will work towards easing tensions and hostilities with Pakistan. This, they say may eventually enable
them to unite with their families. “My wife Rani Malik and daughter Kaki are still in Gujranwala and I have not heard about their well being”, Muzamil said with moist eyes.
These former militants, who were inducted into the main stream in Jammu and Kashmir, after they surrendered before the security forces, many along with their weapons, said the government had failed to live up to its promise of providing them jobs and rehabilitating them.
“We don’t have much choice, but our only hope is to be optimistic and think that once peace returns in the state, we too will get our share in betterment”, says another former militant, who did not wish to be identified.
At the Bagial Dhara polling station, yet another militant Mohammad Hussain was the third in queue to cast his vote. He said he regretted becoming a militant, but added “I too was forcibly taken by a group of militants from my house and I did not have the choice to return. But in 2004, I surrendered. Those 5-6 years of playing hide and seek with the security forces was a nightmare I want to forget”, he said hoping that others too would take cue from him and bid adieu to gun.
