Tribune stories

Living by gun till militancy is wiped out
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Kulali (Surankote), April 17
Caught between the devil and the deep sea, women in this remote area of Kulali do not want to hand over the job of their personal security to the government.

While the state government is yet to react to the Supreme Court direction on self-defence groups, apprehending that militants may kill them, members of the village defence committees (VDCs) have almost decided to continue protecting each other.

Women comprising one of the oldest VDCs here - who took up guns to protect their families and fellow villagers - say that they would continue to fight the militants.

“If we let the government take over the task of fighting terrorism, it may not be able to protect each and every person,” is the common sentiment.

About a dozen in number, these women took up arms to challenge the terrorists and protect their village in March 2003, giving birth to state's first women's VDC.

They are today on the top of the hit list of the militants for posing a challenge to their dictates.

“We have decided to live by the gun till militancy is wiped out,” is how they react to the any questions about the VDC.

This village forms an important area of famous Hill Kaka area where the Army few years back carried an Operation Sarp Vinash to liberate this area completely controlled by the militants after killing more than 150 militants.

Questioning the anti-militant cum self-defence movement started by the various governments across the country, the Supreme Court recently in its observation in the petition filed by Nandini Sundar, Ramachandra Guha and E.A.S. Sarma challenging the setting up of Salwa Judum (self-defence groups) by the government in Chattisgarh, has called for an independent assessment of the situation arising out of it.

Village elders say that the Supreme Court has observed that constitution of such defence committees is abetting crime when used to perpetuate terror on innocent people.

“But in the case of Kashmir, the apex court will understand the need to continue such VDC,” members of the VDC say while adding that their names may not be quoted for fear of being pointed out by the militants.

Though the villagers in the area have repeatedly demanded that the police and the paramilitary forces should be deployed in adequate numbers to tackle the militants, the villagers trust the VDC till alternate arrangements are made.

“We can tell you with pride that after wielding guns against the militants, we have been successful in thwarting most of the militant attacks. In the past we have successfully countered their (militant’s) attacks about half a dozen times and never cared for our lives,” says Muneera Begum, member of the village defence committee here whose house was burnt by militants.

“If the state government disbands our VDC, I can tell you with surety that militants will kill us.”

A senior police officer said this women's VDC has played key role in fighting militants in the area and thwarted all their attacks.

People of the area are hopeful that the apex court will not pressurise the Jammu and Kashmir Government into taking away people's right to self-defence.