Militant recruitment in these villages witnessed after two decades
Twin back to back encounters left all three militants dead
Pulwama/Shopian: The three villages in twin districts of South Kashmir witnessed no militant recruitment from past two decades. However, after a lapse of nearly 25 years, one each from LassiporaPulwama, Chiddipora and Shirmal villages of Shopian joined the militant ranks.
The youth from the villages who had joined militant ranks were killed in separate encounters on Monday and Tuesday in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district and South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Shoiab Shah, cousin of a slain LeT commander Waseem Shah who had joined Hizb in the year 2017 was resident of Shirmal village where no militant recruitment had taken place from last 25 years.
Belonging to a middle class family, Shoiab a 12th class student at Government Higher Secondary Litter Pulwama was never arrested before joining the militant ranks.
Shoiab along with two associates was killed in a hideout at ShirmalShopian on Tuesday. He is survived by three brothers, one sister besides his parents.
Aamir Ahmad Bhat, son of Late Abdul Aziz Bhat of Chiddipora village of Chitragam Tehsil was the second militant of the village after Qari Bilal who was killed in a hideout in the vicinity in 90’s.
On Tuesday morning, Aamir called home and informed he was trapped at Shirmal. “Please forgive me, do show my face to every mourner and please don’t weep on my death,” these were the last words of Aamir to his widow mother.
“Aamir was forced to join militant ranks as he was detained by forces and severely tortured,” a family member said.
Months after he was released, Aamir was again called up by forces but he preferred to join militant ranks than to visit police station, fearing police prosecution, he said.
“He used to sleep in Apple orchards for months as he was aware that government forces will come to arrest him and fearing prosecution he left home and joined Hizb,” he said.
However, as per police records, Aamir was an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of slain militant commander Zeenat-ul-Islam before joining him.
Belonging to a middle class family, Aamir is survived by two brothers, six sisters and a widowed mother. Aamir, was killed along with two local associates in ShirmalShopian on Tuesday.
Subzar Ahmad Mir, a B.A final year student at Government Degree College Pulwama who was brought up at his maternal home Lassipora since his childhood as his father had divorced her mother when Subzar was just one year old kid.
“Later, Subzar was brought up his maternal grandparents. In June last year, Subzar left home without uttering a word to his family,” said one of his relative.
He said that Subzar was never inclined towards militancy and it was his family issues that probably forced him to join militant ranks.
Lassipora village also witnessed a youth joining militant ranks after two decades as before Subzar one militant identified as Mohammad Ashraf had taken to arms but was killed in late 90’s. Subzar along with his two associates was killed in HapatnarCharar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district on Monday.
Jahangeer Ganaie
