SPO and VDC member among three killed, 9 ultras surrender in J

Srinagar, Mar 8 (UNI) A Special Police Officer (SPO) and a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member were among three people killed while nine ultras surrendered in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said.

Militants kidnapped and later killed a SPO Mehraj-ud-din Sofi at Khana Gund Tral in south Kashmir district of Pulwama last night.

Militants entered the house of a VDC member Bansi Lal at Chajroo in Udhampur district of Jammu region and shot him dead late last night.

He said security forces and a police killed a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Shaheel Bhai in an encounter at Harigam Kangan this morning. An AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant, a resident of Pakistan.

Nine militants today surrendered along witharms and ammunition before the security forces in Kashmir valley.

The militants, belonging to different outfits, laid down their arms and ammunition before a senior security force officer at a function held here.

We were fed up with the violence and wanted to lead a peaceful life,'' the militants said claiming they had joined militancy after receiving threats from militant organisations.

Now we have realised that violence will not serve any purpose, they said, adding that they wanted to live a honourable life.

However, they called on the government to provide all assistance to surrendered militants so that they could start a fresh life.

A senior army officer said that the recent intiatives taken by the government had encouraged militants to surrender.

He said militants had some apprehensions about their lives after their surrender. These apprehensions have been removed with the result they are feeling very comfortable in coming forward and susrrendering to the security forces, he said.

The officer said another reason for large number of militants surrdering before the security forces was the policy to adjust them in different security force agencies.

About 8000 youths from the state are serving in the army and fighting against the militants, he added.

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