The Indian Army has weaned away nearly 60 localy outh of Jammu and Kashmir, who had been recruited by Pakistan-backed terrorout fits, through a targeted programme undertaken over the past eight months,sources said here on Monday. The programme -- `Operation Maa` -- was launched by Chinar Corps (15 Corps) of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir in February,soon after Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon was appointed its commander.

"The basic objective behind the programme is to ensurethat youth indoctrinated into terrorism by Pakistan-backed terror groups arebrought back into the fold of mainstream society. The programme has beendesigned to help rehabilitate only the local youth of the Valley who havechosen the path of terrorism," a senior Army officer told. As per Armysources, as many as 50 youths have already been rehabilitated after beingweaned away from terrorist groups. The process to rehabilitate 10 more youth isfurther underway.

Explaining the modus operandi of the programme, the Armyofficer told IANS that local youth recruited by terror groups were contactedthrough their `mothers`. "Mothers are the central figure of any family. Weappeal to the local youth recruited into terror groups through their mothers.They are convinced to consult the civil society, the police or the Army to helpthem return to the mainstream.

"Though the Army had been appealing to misguided youthin the Valley in the past too, the operation launched this year is specificallytargeted through their `mothers`. Also, the new programme is further focused onconvincing the youth that there will be no consequences pursuant to theirabandoning of terror groups," the officer added.As per officials, theyouth who respond to the appeals through proper channels of communication arefurther convinced that their identities will not be revealed. They are alsoconvinced that details about their rehabilitation will not be publicised andthat their identities will also be kept a secret from their close relatives.

"This is a unique approach that has been developed tobring terrorists back into the mainstream though it is specifically not the jobof the Army to convince misguided youth or help them rehabilitate. It should beremembered, however, that there is no soft approach for Pakistani infiltratorsin the Valley," said another official.

The Army is also working towards bringing back the `fringeelements` in the Valley into the mainstream. The `fringe elements` have beenidentified as a youth in the age group of 21 to 24 years who do not join terrorgroups per se but are involved in anti-social activities such as stone peltingor issuing threats upon civilians.

In the past, there have been instances where `fringeelements` has indulged in killings too, particularly after the abrogation ofArticle 370, without them necessarily joining terror outfits. "Recruitmentdrives are being conducted by the Army regularly targeting youth in the agegroup of 21 to 24 years," added the official.