Jammu and Kashmir: Former militant hoists Tricolour
On the eve of the 74th Republic Day, a former militant named Sher Khan hoisted the Indian flag on the outer wall of his house in Segdi Bhata village in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. Sher Khan was a member of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HUJI) militant group and was active in the area between 1998 and 2006.
He surrendered in 2016 and spent 13 years in jail before being released in 2019. He stated that he was abducted and forced to join the militants at the age of 20, but quickly became disillusioned and surrendered to security forces along with six others in Awantipora in 2006. This is the first time Sher Khan has displayed the Indian flag at his home. He regrets his actions as a militant, saying it not only affected him but also his family, specifically mentioning that his son dropped out of school after 8th grade and daughter Sumaiya left after 6th grade. His youngest daughter is currently in 10th grade. He states that he was misled and as soon as he realized it, he persuaded others to surrender and join the mainstream.
