Jammu: Six top local Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including two commanders, on April 19 surrendered before the Army in Doda district, official sources said.

A group of six local militants, led by tehsil commander Liyaqat Ali Bhat arrived in the Army camp in Gandoh area early on April 19 morning along with some senior citizens in the locality and their family members and laid down their arms before the Rashtriya Rifles sector commander, they said.

Besides Bhat, those who laid down their arms included Sajad Hussain (self-styled area commander), Irshad Hussain, Mohammad Rafeeq, Irfan Hussan and Yasir Ahmed, the sources said. The weapons laid down included six AK-56 rifles, 16 magazines, 542 rounds, 10 kg of explosives, two wireless sets and 31 grenades.

Defence sources said the surrendered ultras desired to join mainstream with their family members and help in rebuilding Jammu and Kashmir. "All of them are local people of Gandoh area, who have joined militancy six years ago and were active in the Doda hills.

"We have been motivating militants to surrender before the Army through their relatives for two months and a group of them decided to surrender during the Prime Minister's visit on April 19. We are expecting more surrenders of local militants in the hills of Doda, which has been an operational hub of militancy during the last 13 years," the sources said.

Since January 1, 18 militants have surrendered before police and security forces, the sources said, adding 232 had surrendered last year.

PTI