Abandoning the path of violence, 18 militants of three outfits, including pro-Pakistan Hizb-ul- Mujahideen [Images], surrendered in Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] on Saturday.

In the presence of their families, who motivated them to give up violence, the militants of Hizb, Hizb-e-Islami and Tehreek-e-Jehad laid down arms at a ceremony in the district town, about 55 km from Srinagar [Images], officials said.

They said the ultras handed over 10 AK-47 assault rifles, 10 pistols, six mobile phones besides ammunition and explosives to the security forces.

The number of militants who have laid down arms in the Kashmir valley since January has gone up to 110 with Saturday's surrender, they said.

The ultras, who had been with the three outfits for four to ten years, were motivated by their parents to leave militancy and join the national mainstream, the officials said.