Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 17: A police officer and a militant were killed in a shootout in Zakoora area of Srinagar this evening while 20-year old Footballer who had joined Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit last week gave up militancy.
A police officer Sub-Inspector Imran Tak was killed and a Special Police Officer (SPO) was injured after militants opened fire on a police party in Zakoora area of Srinagar this evening.
A police party on receiving information about presence of militants in Zakoora area of Srinagar had gone for operation when militants, who were travelling in a car, opened fire on them. The Sub-Inspector Tak was critically injured in the attack and was referred to hospital where he was declared brought dead.
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A militant identified as Mugees Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Aziz Mir, of Parimpora and was active since many years, was injured in the shoot out but managed to escape from the spot at Zakoora. However, he succumbed to injuries later and his body was recovered from Zakoora.
Mugees was presently affiliated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind led by Zakir Musa. His body has reached Parimpora.
One militant was also arrested from the spot besides some cell phones were seized. Police is questioning him and trying to get data from the cell phones which can provide vital leads.
Tributes were paid to Tak at District Police Lines Srinagar this evening. His body was later taken to his native place for last rites.
Meanwhile, pleas of a wailing mother and passionate appeal from his father finally compelled college student and footballer Arshid Majid Khan to surrender before security agencies today, barely days after he had joined the Lashkar-e-Toiba terror outfit, officials said.
Twenty-year-old Khan walked into an Army camp quietly after videos of his mother Ayesha and his father appealing to him to return home started circulating on social media.
Khan appeared before the Army camp in the middle of the night and surrendered.
He was taken to the headquarters of Victor Force, an Army unit engaged in countering militancy in South Kashmir, at Awantipura, 33 kms from here.
“He is with us and we will take care of him. We hope that this will encourage others who have not indulged in any heinous crime to surrender before the authorities,” Major General B S Raju told reporters at Awantipora.
The Army officer felt that Khan’s return could turn into a test case for those who want to leave militancy and join the mainstream.
Khan, who is the only son of his parents, was allowed to meet his mother and father for a few hours separately after which he was kept at a room with all the amenities required for a student.
“Look, he is neither under arrest nor under any detention. We will decide on his future course after sometime. A bit of rehabilitation would do no harm,” Maj Gen Raju said.
His surrender was seen as a whiff of fresh air in tense South Kashmir which has witnessed large-scale recruitment of local youths by militants in the past. Unofficial estimates have put the figure of such youths at nearly 150 since July 2016.
Major General BS Raju said that Khan has decided to shun violence and lead a normal life. “The brave young man, Majid Khan, decided on his own to shun violence and returned to lead a normal life, pursuing his academics and passion for football. He was neither apprehended nor did he surrender. We only facilitated his return”, he said.
Inspector General of Police, Muneer Khan said: “The question is has he surrendered. I said no. The question was has he been apprehended, I said no. Again at this time also, I would say neither has he surrendered nor has been apprehended. He has come to the family on his own. He went on his own to see how it tastes, he came on his own. And, of course, his father, friends were instrumental in bringing him back”, he said.
Major General Raju said that Khan’s mother’s appeal and prayers have yielded results. “I would like to compliment the parents of Majid Khan, especially his mother whose appeal and prayers have yielded us results. I would like to compliment the people of Kashmir who supported this movement. I would also like to compliment the entire media which is here which helped in playing the case of parents of Majid which ultimately led Majid Khan to come back. I would also like to compliment the security forces which are able to orchestrate this move back safely and most importantly I would like to compliment the brave boy Majid himself who decided to shun the path of violence and get back to mainstream”, he said.
The Army Commander said that last evening army got an information that he wants to quit militancy. “Yesterday was a very important day for us. In the evening, we got information that there is an opportunity from the family that this individual wants to come back. We did what we needed to do to ensure that the individual was safely brought in. I must tell you that this was a brave decision taken by this individual, keeping in mind the state of his parents and also to pursue his own career in academics. In our opinion, Majid Khan had strayed from the beacon path for a little fire and on his own decided to come back. Having realized the folly of the path he had taken and for that he definitely deserves compliments”, Major General Raju said.
The GOC Victor Force said: “And, having facilitating his return, we also want to assure that there will be no charges pressed on him and that he would be able to get back to normal life very soon. I also want to assure that we sitting here would like to provide him all opportunities to return to the mainstream to pursue his career as well as his sporting talent”, he said.
He appealed to local militants to follow the footsteps of Khan. “Today I wish to appeal again which I have done multiple times that those youths who have gone astray and who want to return and who have committed no crime can follow the footsteps of Majid Khan and we will take full care of them. I also would like to say that those people who have been coerced into taking some actions where they have committed some criminal acts, we will request them to also to come back within the provisions of law. Necessary action would be taken to ensure that they are able to get back into mainstream”, he said.
“I also look at this as a great example for lot of other parents whose kids’ have gone out to make appeals and I would request all you to carry forward that appeal so that right sense prevails on those people who are on the other side of the fence to come back”, said the GOC.
IGP Khan said that security forces are sticking to the policy of bring back militants. “We stick to our policy of letting the youth who have treaded wrong path to come back. We will welcome them with open arms as we have shown practically in this case and of course in previous cases also. Ultimately all this things lead you nowhere and we want them to live with respect in society, join their families and all of you must have by now seen the emotional tweet of Chief Minister also”, he said.
“So everybody wants them to come back and the biggest thing which you would have seen in that tweet ultimately it is family which suffers and there is no denying to the fact. So again taking this opportunity, I reiterate the appeal to all local youths to come back to their homes, live with respect, concentrate on your studies and business and restore peace”, he said.
IG Khan said: “Rehabilit-ation is not only of course possible in a very effective manner. They are part of this society. They have every right to live in this society with respect with dignity. As far as others following the pattern is concerned, certainly they will because we are true to our commitment. Not only in respect of surrenders, only yesterday we told you and gave you a live example where a terrorist who killed our jawan was rescued by the jawans and taken to hospital. What more can be the example of the sincerity and sticking to the policy? I think they should come”, he said.
Lashkar-e-Toiba, however, said that Majid Arshad Khan was permitted to leave for his home on the request of his mother, since he was the only guarantor to his household.
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