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J&K: Indian Army’s ‘Operation Maa’ Successfully Brought Back 60 Youth From Terror Groups
Footballer-turned-terrorist Majid Khan surrenders before security forces. (representative image) (Waseem Andrabi/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
The Indian Army has weaned away nearly 60 local youth of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), who had been recruited by Pakistan-backed terror outfits, through a targeted programme undertaken over the past eight months, sources said on Monday (11 November).
The programme - 'Operation Maa' - was launched by Chinar Corps (15 Corps) of the Indian Army in J&K in February this year, soon after Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon was appointed its commander.
"The basic objective behind the programme is to ensure that youth indoctrinated into militancy by Pakistan-backed terror groups are brought back into the fold of mainstream society. The programme has been designed to help rehabilitate the local youth of the Valley who have chosen the path of militancy," a senior Army officer said.
As per Army sources, as many as 50 youth have already been rehabilitated after being weaned away from militant groups. The process to rehabilitate 10 more youth is further underway. Explaining the modus operandi of the programme, the Army officer said that local youth recruited by terror groups were contacted through their 'mothers'.
"Mothers are the central figure of any family. We appeal to the local youth recruited into terror groups through their mothers. They are convinced to consult the civil society, the police or the Army to help them return to the mainstream.
"This is a unique approach that has been developed to bring militants back into the mainstream though it is specifically not the job of the Army to convince misguided youth or help them rehabilitate. It should be remembered, however, that there is no soft approach for Pakistani infiltrators in the Valley," said another official.
The Army is also working towards bringing back the 'fringe elements' in the Valley into the mainstream. The 'fringe elements' have been identified as youth in the age group of 21 to 24 years who do not join terror groups per se but are involved in anti-social activities such as stone pelting or issuing threats upon civilians.
In the past, there have been instances where 'fringe elements' have indulged in killings too, particularly after the abrogation of Article 370, without them necessarily joining terror outfits.
(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
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