Militancy comes to end in Mahore as women pick up gun

Jammu, May 27 (UNI) The guns are silent since long in Mahore tehsil of newly formed Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir as activities of foreign and local militants, had come to an end in the region following the revolt of women from all communities.

In a unique display of communal harmony and secularism, for the first time, the women of all communities in this belt of state have come together to fight a united battle against militancy.

''Mahore area situated adjacent to Pir Panjal mountains remained a hotbed of militancy for the last one decade and it was an important highway route for the militants to gain access to other parts of the state''said an officer of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) who is responsible for counter-insurgency.

''The free run of militants came to an end due to number of factors including open rebellion spearheaded by the women. Picking up of arms by women in the last few years gave a new dimension to the fight against militancy and it is no longer a new development, army, paramilitary and police officers say.

But what makes this place unique is the fact that a diverse group of women irrespective of their ethnicity or religion have come together to make the fight against militancy a combined effort of all communities.

The worst sufferers of violence in our area have been women irrespective of her religion. ''Ultimately we came together and picked up weapons after militants tried to impose social diktats on us and tried to curtail our freedom,'' Khushid Bi says while sketching reasons for the women to pick up weapons which is not hard to decipher.

''There were two options before us. Either we succumbed to the diktats of the militants and changed our lifestyle. There was also difficult option of rebelling against them and we opted for that.

We have snatched our freedom,'' she further said.

As the women learnt the use of weapons, mostly .303 rifles, they gained confidence and opposed the veil campaign started by the militants.

''We have always been equal partners with men and therefore we are hell bent in preserving our much cherished freedom. The very fact that women of all communities have come together in the fight against militancy has gone a long way in reviving the spirit of communal harmony in this belt.'' Neelu Devi, another women who took up the gun says.

Local legislator, Abdul Ghani Malik also agreed that the united women force has changed the scenario of the region, which was dominated by militants.

Mr Malik said, ''Apart from resisting the social diktats, women have also given a jolt to militancy in these areas. As the number of women fighting out the militants swelled, they along with the men outnumbered the total strength of militants active in the belt.'' For instance at this moment 300 locals, including many women, in various villages of Mahore are resisting the militants who are only two dozen, he further added.

''The fencing along with Line of Control (LoC) has also been one of the main reasons of reduction in the militant activities and prevailing the peace in this mountanous region as the infiltration of militants come down to zero level via LoC.'' Mr.

Malik said.

Now this region needs a degree college so that the local youths could get proper education and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had promised to establish a degree college in Mahore, he further added.

A local of Tuli village says, in fact many men picked up weapons after being encouraged by the fact that women successfully rebelled against the militants.

''The anger towards militancy was more among women as they were the worst victims of their diktats and this was the reason why they took a lead in the fight against militancy. But the most important contribution by the women folk is the way they have revived the spirit of communal harmony,'' he said.

UNI