J&K: Army's healing touch to bring people back to mainstream

Mohammad Yaqoob, one of the hundreds of victims who bore the brunt of the two-decade old militancy in the Kashmir Valley, has finally got a reason to smile after the traumatic phase of sufferings.

Yaqoob, who lost his house during an encounter in 2006 in Karnah tehsil of the state, is one of the beneficiaries of the various steps initiated by the Indian Army to bring people of the valley to the mainstream and establish a connect with them.

With an aim to rehabilitate him, army has given him the much-needed financial backing by providing him a permanent job in the organisation.

Security forces struck at Yaqoob's house in Shamaspura village near the Line of Control (LoC) in November 2006 after receiving information from his brother that a militant was hiding in his two-storied house.

An operation was triggered and a course of devastation followed, recalls an army spokesperson, although stressing that what happened is history now.

"The army took the initiative and was prompt in ensuring all possible humanitarian aid to Yaqoob. He was provided immediate help in shape of bare essentials to include tentage, kitchen utensils, clothing and food. Army assisted him in necessary documentation to obtain compensation as per latest orders," the spokesperson said.