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Hardcore militants give up arms

What is India News Service, Wednesday, 10 November 2004, 2000 hrs IST


Forty-seven militants gave up the path of violence and pledged to lead a peaceful life. This is one of the largest mass surrenders by militants in Jammu and Kashmir since militancy began 15 years ago.

Some of the militants who surrendered were active for more than a decade and participated in several encounters with the security forces.

Those who laid down arms at a simple ceremony here at the 16 Corps headquarters were from the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Most of the former militants are in their early 20s and have crossed the Line of Control for training. Thirteen of them had been operating from the thickly forested hills of the Doda district for the last five or six years. Security officials said that a surrender of such magnitude could open the floodgates for more such events.

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Overall:

Hardcore Kashmir militants gave up arms: Police said they would protect them from violence.