Indian Army celebrates 23 years of homecoming of 23 Kashmiri youth rescued from militants

On August 23, 1998, a group of 23 young Kashmiri boys were rescued while they were attempting to cross the LoC in the Gurez sector of Bandipora district.

Srinagar: The Indian army today (August 23) celebrated 23 years of homecoming of the 23 boys who were brought back from the clutches of militants in 1998. Army in its outreach program to felicitate these 23 individuals tried to send across a message to the youth of the Kashmir valley to shun the path of violence and come back to the mainstream. On August 23, 1998, a group of 23 young Kashmiri boys was rescued while they were attempting to cross the LoC in the Gurez sector of Bandipora district. Army said that these young boys were compelled by a fellow Kashmiri named Abdul Hamid Gada alias Bambar Khan, a resident of Ganderbal for joining terror outfits.