On 16 October 2001, based on specific information provided by the locals regarding presence of foreign terrorists in a house in Kangoipur village in Budgam District, the Security Forces immediately cordoned the suspected house. The terrorists finding themselves surrounded opened heavy volume of fire on the troops. Seeing the danger to the inmates of the house, the troops with the help of the locals managed to extricate them to safety without any injuries. Thereafter, in the ensuing encounter between the troops and the terrorists, one terrorist was killed. The house, where the terrorists had taken refuge, was damaged. After the troops handed over the body of the terrorist killed to the police, it was informed that the he had been identified as Abdul Rehman alias Karilish, son of Mohd Hussain, resident of Dara Salwa, Gujranwala, Pakistan and belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba, the fanatic and ruthless Pakistani terrorist organisation and a protégé of Pakistan Army and ISI.
On 17 October 2001, the Security Forces went to the village to offer assistance to the man whose house had been damaged in the previous days' incident. While approaching the said house they saw that in a nearby house preparations were on for a marriage ceremony. The people were decorating the house and 'wazwan' (Kashmiri food) was being prepared. As they were going past the gate, a group of women and young girls suddenly emerged from the house and stopped them. Before they could comprehend what was happening, to their extreme embarrassment, the women and girls started touching their feet and saying something in Kashmiri which they did not understand. As all of them recoiled, one of the villagers said that the women of the village were thanking them for killing the dreaded Pakistani terrorist, Abdul Rehman alias Karilish. The people informed them that the said terrorist along with his cohorts used to enter any persons house at anytime claiming to be 'Mehman (guest) Mujahids' and demand 'comfort' as per their wish. The terrorised villagers did not have any other way out but to agree to their demands which included 'Ijjat' (honour) of their daughters, sisters, wives and even the mothers to fulfill their lust.
As the villagers surrounded them and thanked them profusely, an emotion of elation overcame them as this was the best reward they had ever received for their service in J&K, even better than the recognition by their superiors and the medals won.
No ones knows how many more Kangoipurs will have to occur before the silent Kashmiri majority turns vocal and exposes the bloodied hands of the Pakistanis to the World.
But one thing is sure - the time is not far away.
Published in armyinkashmir.com
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