Disillusioned with militancy, youths here prefer Army over jehad

REASI (UDHAMPUR), AUG 25: Few months back, youth in the villages falling in the lower ranges of Pir Panchal were joining militant ranks fo...

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REASI (UDHAMPUR), AUG 25: Few months back, youth in the villages falling in the lower ranges of Pir Panchal were joining militant ranks for their survival. But today, many have surrendered and hundreds of others have shown their willingness to join the armed forces against whom once they had picked up arms.

What has led these youngsters fighting jehad to change their stance? “Many of us belonged to poor families and therefore wanted jobs to have two meals. With defunct administration, joining militancy appeared to be the only option. But after the deployment of the Army in the area, offices resumed functioning and life is limping back to normal. We have also realised the futility of the so-called jehad. The best way for survival is to join the mainstream and opt for some employment like other people do,” said Ashfaq Ahmad of Chasana, in tehsil Mahore.

Many like Ashfaq were not religious zealots. But they joined militancy for power and livelihood. But today they want to be recruited in the force. This is the only way out from the poverty and frustration that has gripped them due to lack of job prospects.

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General Officer Commanding DAH Division Maj Gen S S Negi said it was this response of the youngsters that made him write letters to all the three regiments — Dogra, J&K Rifles and J&K LI — operating in the area asking them to start recruitment of youth from Pir Panchal zone.

“They are uneducated but tough,” Maj Gen Negi added.

As this will be the first recruitment in the area during the past 50 years, the army has started a one-and-a-half month pre-recruitment course to generate awareness among boys. Large number of boys have been selected for this course after making them undergo a screening test.

`By the time the recruitment date arrives, we want the boys to be well-prepared. As without this their chances of selection are bleak. And we do not want to face disappointment after so much zeal for the uniform,” said Brigadier D S Atri of Mahore Brigade.

Maj Gen Negi said that before their taking over the area in March this year, the villages on the southern side of the Pir Panchal range were almost liberated zones. The administration had gone defunct. Schools had stopped functioning. The fear of militants in mountainous terrains prevented police from investigating criminal and other cases even in the villages falling in the foothill of the ranges. The paramilitary forces deployed in some of the areas also failed to deliver goods.

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This phase led to the alienation of the population of this area. The number of school drop-outs and unemployed youth in the area started slowing thus making easy for the militant commanders operating in the area to lure them to cross over to other side and pick gun against the forces. And they happily did this as this not only assured them power but money also.

“Keeping these things in view, we started operations not only to seek and destroy but to win over hearts and minds of people,” GOC Dah Division remarked.

And they have achieved the target. Once again, smiles are back on the faces of mothers as the youngsters have shunned violence.

This has announced the beginning of the new era where peace is going to stay — Courtesy Operation Sadbhavna.