Poonch, Jammu,India Mar 31—They defeated the nefarious designs of the terrorists in Hill Kaka and fought neck and neck with the Indian Army during the operation Sarp Vinash but now they are feeling orphaned.
The people of Kalali, Do Phalli, Chapra and Telgi Katha-all villages enroute Hill Kaka are ruing their decision to fight the highly trained terrorists enconsced there. The reason for the desolation of these people is the reported movement of the troops from these villages, where army pickets had been set up to provide security to people since 2003.
According to sources, !6 Rastriya Rifles which was posted in the area has been shifted and as a result the villagers have been left to fend for themselves. Perturbed over the shifting of Army pickets from the area, around 120 Village Defence Committee members, who took an active part in anti-insurgency operations allege that they are being treated as cannon fodder by the government. “We fought against the terrorists alongside the security forces and because of our support terrorists were crushed in the area”, they said in unison, adding that they have become easy targets as army has left the area.
“We fear a Kalakote like massacre in the area as the army has moved out like it happened there”, they assert. Most vulnerable among these villagers are the 20 women VDC members, who are trained in handling and using the weapons. These women feel that absence of army will definitely give an upper hand to the militants and allow them to set up base here.
A resident of Dophalli, Razia Begum said “I have fought against terrorists when I should have been tending the family and the household all because we had faith in the Indian establishment”, adding “we feel orphaned in the manner we have been left at the mercy of terrorists”.
During the crucial fight in Hill Kaka it was our men and women, who provided crucial information to security men, which led to a resounding victory for the Indian Army. The residents of the area warn that the absence of armed forces in the area could be very dangerous not only for the people but strategically as well. “If the terrorists return, they will hit us hard”, said an angry Imtiaz Ahmed, a VDC member, who has worked extensively against the terrorists.
Listening to the fears of these people, it can be safely assumed that if the faith of these people is lost than India will be losing their most strategic asset and best friends which she got in the militancy infested country.