Four top militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen, including a divisional commander, surrendered to the police in Kulgam district today. “The police achieved a major success by forcing the longest surviving and the only active militant group of the Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment to surrender in the DH Pora area in Kulgam,” a police spokesman said.
He said the militants surrendered following joint operations by the police, the Army and the CRPF in Kulgam and Reasi districts on either side of the Pir Panjal range. The surrendered militants were identified as Mohammad Rafiq Sheikh, alias Basharat, Bashir Ahmad, alias Rashid, Mohammad Maqbool, alias Majid, and Mohammad Shafi, alias Haroon Rashid.
“All the four militants hail from Reasi district in the Jammu region and Sheikh was the divisional commander of the group,” the spokesman said.
The surrendered militants handed over two AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, one grenade launcher, five under-barrelled grenades, 118 AK rounds, one wireless set, one mobile phone, one battery and three pouches. The spokesman said at least five cases had already been registered against the militant group.
“They are also involved in a number of cases in Reasi and Ramban districts. They are being questioned to know about the details of the network in the Pir Panjal range,” he added.
In Jammu, IGP, Jammu zone, Dilbagh Singh said 36 militants, including nine foreigners, were still active in the region.
The IGP said, “Militancy has been wiped out from Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi districts while it has ebbed in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Khistwar and Ramban districts.” Talking to reporters here this evening, he said “With the surrender of four hardcore militants of Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment in Kulgam yesterday, Reasi district has also been cleansed of militancy,” he said.
Self-styled divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen Mohammed Rafiq Sheikh, alias Basharat, a resident of Neoch in the Gulabgarh area of Reasi district, along with three other militants surrendered before the security forces in Kulgam yesterday. Sheikh had been active since 1997 and was an “A” category militant.
Besides Rafiq Sheikh, Basharar Ahmed Sheikh, also a resident of Neoch in Reasi, Mohammed Shafi Sheikh, a resident of Dewal in Mahore, and Mohammed Maqbool Sheikh, a resident of Lar in Mahore, also surrendered before the security forces only after we persuaded them via a mediator to return to the mainstream, said the IGP.
They also handed over two AK-47 rifles, one UBGL, five grenades, one wireless set and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, he added.
The IGP informed that five cases in Kulgam and 10 in Reasi alone were registered against Rafiq Sheikh.
However, talking to the mediapersons, Rafiq Sheikh claimed that he had neither killed anyone nor had confronted the security forces in any encounter. “After I realised that I am treading a wrong path of death and destruction, I decided to surrender before the security forces,” he said.
On the rehabilitation policy of misguided youth, the IGP said the police had so far received 153 applications. “After scrutinising the applications, we have recommended the deserving cases to the government,” he said.
ट्रिब्यून, 19-08-2011
ROYAL FAMILY TO LEAD RITES OF PENITENCE
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
DC CORRESPONDENT
The Travancore Royal family will lead the `vilichu cholli prayaschittham,' a rite of penitence, at the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple on Friday.
As part of this, members of the royal family, along with devotees will openly seek Lord Padmanabha's forgiveness on the laxity that had crept into the performance of various rituals in the temple over the years.
After the `prayaschittam' the royalty as well as the commoners will also make offering to the deity. The penitence rite is being held in the wake of the devaprasnam conducted in the temple warning of danger to the Travancore royal family, the custodian of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple.
The seers had expressed unhappiness at many rituals not being performed properly, The series of pujas prescribed by the seers who conducted the devaprasnam have already started in the temple.
The Trikala puja meant to gain the Lord's favour has commenced in the temple. Vishnu and Bhagavathy poojas were also held in the temple. The head p r i e s t , Tharananalloor Parameswaran Namboodiri, is leading the rituals.
According to palace officials, steps are also being taken to improve the state of affairs in affiliated temples including the one at Ananthankadu and the Adi Kesava temple in Thiruvattar.
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