THATHRI (DODA), Dec 10: "They have been brutalising our sensibilities under the garb of Jehad but now after what they did to our sister, it is time to hit back and make them realise what they are doing is un-Islamic," said Aslam (name changed for security reasons). Aslam was referring to the painful incident that rudely jolted the residents of the sleepy village of Bhela, near here, about a week ago.

A group of militants had killed 19-year-old Rehana, daughter of Mohammad Shabir, after kidnapping and then molesting her during the intervening night of December 1 and 2. Later, they killed Rehana's mother and hanged to death one Talib Hussain, 26, labelling him as an "informer" of the security forces.

Resentment is brewing and so is the hatred for the militants in the Muslim-dominated village. And, though it will take quite some time and strength to heal the scars the incident inflicted upon some 1,000 residents of the village, presently they are raring to fight back - their dignity hurt and woken out of the stupor of what they now realise the Jehad is just another un-Islamic garb of terrorism.

"We are experiencing such a situation for the first time where people are collectively voicing their views against the militants," said Farooq Kahan, Superintendent of Police, Doda. He added the police had decided to use this opportunity to create a "village defense committee" (VDC).

In fact, majority of the residents attended the funeral which, according to the villagers, was unprecedented. "It is a direct attack on the sanctity of our womenfolk and we are unanimous in our resolve to protect them even at the cost of fighting the militants," said a villager.

Even the officials claim that never before was a funeral of an "informer" attended by such a large number of people. An official said, earlier, no one used to attend the funeral of those branded as informers and killed by the militants. "The families used to have difficulty in carrying out the funeral ceremonies," he revealed.

Police have identified five of about 15 militants involved in the incident. "It was a joint group of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujjahideen," said the district police chief. Narrating the tragic tale, another villager said nearly 15 militants entered the house of Mohammad Shabir at about midnight. "They started beating Rehana with rifle buts and sticks. Her mother was shot dead when she resisted," he said, adding later Rehana was taken to the nearby forest and molested - as the bite mark on her torso suggested - and then killed. The militants brought her body back and chopped off her head with a sword. They also pasted a slip on her chest with a message, which read: "She is a woman of easy virtue, having an affair with a Captain of the Army." A warning was also issued to the villagers.

Later, the militants reportedly went to the house of Talib Hussain and took him to a nearby cattleshed. He was badly tortured and then hanged. Maintaining that Talib was not an informer of the security forces, Aslam said, "For last three months, the militants were asking him to join them in their fight for Azadi but he had refused."

According to Intelligence sources, such acts show the increasing resentment of locals including the Muslims against the militans. They are not only refusing to join them but now have also begun to actively oppose them.

"At the same time, the militants are desperate and want to terrorise the villagers to maintain sway on them," said an Intelligence Bureau officer.

He said they have been able to identify the local militants, while the remaining are believed to be foreign mercenaries.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.