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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Kashmiri women take up arms for self-protection |
| 2005-09-29 |
| by Prakriiti Gupta, Middle East Times EFL. Hat tip: Kathy "Relapsed Catholic" Shaidle. Women in Jammu and Kashmir have now picked up guns against Islamic militants to protect their homes. At least 30 Muslim women in the disputed region to the north of India and Pakistan have constituted a separate all-women Village Defense Committee (VDC) and are operating with the Indian army in the forested mountains of Surankote in the Poonch district bordering the Pakistani side of Kashmir to fight militants. "Now militants do not dare enter our village," said 18-year-old Nishat Bee, the youngest member of the group. Her companion, however, corrects her by saying, "In fact militants have not been this way since we picked up guns against them." On a visit to the twin villages of Marah and Kulali, one finds tall, slender Muslim women sporting rifles on their shoulders while grazing cattle alone in deep forests or standing on top of the roofs of their homes to keep a watch on militants. "I am proud to fight a Jihad [holy war] against marauders who have cheated us of our dignity and honor," says Shamima Akhter, the 30-year-old commander of this particular women's group. "Militants who would force us to provide them shelter, food and at times to entertain them physically were harassing us physically and mentally. If we opposed them they would commit rapes or kill our family members. We wanted to confront them and the only way to do it was to acquaint ourselves with the basic functioning of guns and grenades," she added. . . . . . . Tahira Begum, wife of VDC member Tahir Hussain Choudhary and mother of three says, "we want to live with honor and dignity and [for that] we have waged a war against these gun trotters [who are] a blot on the name of Islam. "It is an amazing feeling to hold a gun in one's hand for a noble cause," Begum added. "On several occasions in the past eight months I have come across jihadis in the forests who are scared and who go into hiding. I am proud to be fighting a jihad against these marauders who cheated us of our dignity and honor." The Second Amendment . . . it's a beautiful thing. Trained in the firing, basic handling and cleaning of weapons, as well as in battle craft and field craft drills, nearly every month these women go to nearby army camps to polish up on their shooting skills and to update their knowledge of weapons used commonly by terrorists. "They have an extraordinary learning zest," said Indian army Public Relations Officer R.K Chhibber. "Not only that, but the single women . . . their boyfriends are so well behaved, you'd just be amazed how polite they are!" |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #2 Let's hope this concept spreads.I find the idea of an AK packin women protecting hearth and kin inspiring(and scary). |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-09-29 22:20 |
| #1 Meanwhile Top Hizbul militant surrenders in J-K Soon after his infiltration from across Pakistan occupied Kashmir, a top Hizbul Mujahideen and Afghanistan trained militant surrendered before troops at a forward post on Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday night, officials said. Identified as Mohmmad Ayoub of Banpat village in Poonch district, the militant entered the Indian territory from Pakistan occupied Kashmir side and went to the forward post and surrendered before the troops on LoC in Poonch district. "Instead of escaping from the area, he surrendered before the troops," officials said adding the militant also handed over one AK rifle, one pistol, 4 magazines, 5 IEDs and 137 rounds. |
| Posted by: john 2005-09-29 17:52 |