The Hindu : National : Women living along LoC get weapons training

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Monday, Apr 14, 2008
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Women living along LoC get weapons training

Staff Reporter

As infiltration by militants from PoK is feared

— Photo : Luv Puri

GEARING up FOR BATTLE: Women learning combat skills in the Jhangar area of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jhangar (LoC): With over 400 militants waiting to infiltrate from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), women living in villages along the Line of Control (LoC) have been given training in the use of weapons.

General Officer Commanding 16 Corps Lt. General R.K. Karwal on Wednesday confirmed reports of over 400 militants stationed along the LoC. They were in 18 launching pads — in Goi, Kotli, Nikial,Bindi, Samani, Dhallupar, Hijira, Sensakudiala Bhimber and Mamana.

Samina Kousar has learnt to use weapons to defend her family. She, like others in the belt, underwent training as the militants might come to their homes.

From Jhangar one can easily spot Kotli district in PoK. The contiguity with PoK makes it infiltration-prone. It is surrounded by PoK on three sides. Militants use villages adjoining the LoC as highway routes for their trek to interior parts of the State. In the process they seek shelter and food from the locals.

A senior army officer said: “Weaponry training is being given to the women as a defensive strategy so that they can face any situation.”

Suman Kumari said: “Women of this belt work alongside men in the agriculture fields and do the same amount of hard labour. Therefore it is not difficult to train them. They could handle the heavy weapons just like the men.”

Sonia Sood, a 20-year-old girl, the youngest in the group said: “Learning the use of weapons has given us a sense of security as otherwise we were dependent on our men.”

The initiative of Jhangar women has become a source of inspiration for others belonging to other villages along the LoC.

Altogether 150 women of Jhangar and adjoining villages have been trained.

Learning use of weapons may have brought a sense of security for the women, but argued that they could do little for developing their village. Compared to urban centres, it has few facilities. The nearest medical dispensary which catered to Sarya village was 25 km away, Netu, a government school teacher said.

“The authorities should provide us infrastructure so that we too join the rest of the country in the march towards development.”

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