Srinagar: Two Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists surrendered along with arms and ammunition during an encounter in Kulgam district following appeals by the parents and the security forces, a police spokesman said.
Acting on intelligence inputs, the army and police laid down a cordon at Hadigam area around a secluded house where the forces believed the two terrorists were hiding, said the spokesman.
“During the search operation, the terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. Initially, the civilians trapped around the encounter site were evacuated safely to the safer place by the joint team,” said the spokesman.
He said that as identity of the trapped terrorists got ascertained, the joint team showed utmost restraint and provided them an opportunity to surrender.
“Their family members were also called to the encounter site to motivate and persuade them to surrender. After repeated surrender appeals made by their parents, police & security forces, both the trapped terrorists finally surrendered before the joint team of police & security forces,” said the spokesman.
The spokesman identified the surrendered recruits as Kafeel Ahmad Mir son of Javid Ahmad Mir resident of Mirpora Qaimoh and Nadeem Abbas Bhat son of Mohammad Abbas Bhat resident of Reshipora Qaimoh.
“Incriminating material including arms & ammunition and other war like substances have been recovered from their possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” he said.
As per police records, both the terrorists were part of recently recruited module of proscribed terror outfit LeT. These youth were brainwashed and tasked to carryout anti-national activities and killings at the behest of LeT terror outfit, said the spokesman.
Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir reiterated his appeal to the parents to keep strict vigil on their wards to prevent them from indulging in any anti-national activities especially joining the terror ranks. He further said that if every parent persuades and appeals their terrorist sons to shun the path of violence, be it soon after joining terror ranks or during the time they are trapped during live encounters, many lives can be saved as two lives were saved in today’s encounter.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti lauded the security forces and the families of two surrendered youth for persuading them to lay down arms and surrender.
She said such efforts should continue in order to give a second chance to those youngsters who have joined militant ranks.
“Two lives saved thanks to the efforts of their families and the support extended by security forces. These kinds of efforts must be continued so that youngsters who join militancy are given a second chance to live their lives,” the PDP president said in a tweet.
