Jammu & Kashmir: In addition to taking a tough stand against the terrorists, the Indian Army is reported to use a softer tactic to bring to mainstream the local youths who had turned to terrorism. The program called ‘Operation Ma’ has been able to wean away at least 50 youths back to normal life.
However, the operation is aimed at only the local youths of Kashmir and not those who infiltrate from Pakistan.
The modus operandi of the program is unique because it uses the mothers of these young terrorists to appeal them to lay down their guns.
A senior Army officer said, “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.”
He added, “Though the Army had been appealing to misguided youth in the Valley in the past too, the operation launched this year is specifically targeted through their `mothers`. Also, the new programme is further focused on convincing the youth that there will be no consequences pursuant to their abandoning of terror groups.”
The youths are assured that their identities will not be revealed. Those who abandon their terrorists backgrounds are then rehabilitated for a better life.
Army sources say that they have succeeded in bringing back 50 youths to mainstream and is in the process of bringing in ten more other youths.
Operation Ma was launched by Chinar Corps in Jammu and Kashmir soon after Lieutenant General K. J. S. Dhillon took over as commander.
