‘We will shoot, save your child’: Army officials meet families of terrorists in Kashmir

Srinagar. In Jammu and Kashmir, the army and police have launched an operation to reach the families of the terrorists. In the aftermath, several army officers met with the families of the terrorists who conducted the operation in the Valley on Tuesday and appealed for the repatriation of members of the household who had become part of the militancy. Not long ago, the Indian Army changed its Standard Operating System (SOP). Under it, they are pushing for surrender instead of killing the terrorists.

During the exercise, IG of Kashmir Police Vijay Kumar, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 15 Corps, Lieutenant General DP Pandey and GOC, Victor Force Major General Rashim Bali met the family directly in Shopian, South Kashmir. “I requested GoC Victor (Force) to speak to me face to face, so that I can request that your children be removed from this (terrorism),” General Pandey said.

He said, ‘Take them out quietly. I don’t know how you do it. This is totally for you. But if a boy drops his weapon during the operation, we will be shot, we will be injured, we will be killed, but we will save your child. This is my promise to you. The rest is up to you to decide. This is the first time top police and army officials are holding direct talks with the families of terrorists in south Kashmir, the Indian Express reported.

Read more: Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army changes SOPs, now insists terrorists surrender

The report quoted sources as saying that families from South Kashmir districts like Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag took part. In February, Major General Bali spoke to youths in Pulwama, South Kashmir. During a conversation with the family, Lt. Gen. Pandey said the force would work with young men who have given up arms, “listening to their concerns and helping them join the mainstream.”

“The purpose of the communication was to build trust among the families of the active terrorists and to express the purpose of the security forces … Social and family support can keep men away from the path of violence and death,” said defense spokesman Dr. Security forces are targeting ‘unarmed terrorists’ who carry out terrorist activities. Its overall goal is to break the cycle of violence.