Januz Zeneli was a member of a well-known patriotic family, which from generation to generation had inherited aspirations for the liberation and national unification of Albanians. His ancestors during World War II fought and fell bravely against the bloody Serbian gangs that reoccupied Kosovo in early 1945.
Salih Zeneli from the village of Ballaban and his wife Metihja, although in difficult existential conditions and circumstances, raised their sons: Januz, Veseli and Jahiri as well as their only daughter, Vahide. Januzi was born on April 10, 1942. He completed primary school in Gallab, former Orllan.
Due to difficult economic conditions, he was unable to complete his education, and at a young age he completed his mandatory military service. After returning from the army, he got a job at the “Ramiz Sadiku” Construction Combine in Prishtina, where he worked for several years and helped raise his family.
In 1990, he started working at the village school where he performed the duties of a school technician. Educated and inspired by patriotic ideas, Januz Zeneli participated in the student youth demonstrations of March and April 1981.
Since he was known and maintained contacts with illegal groups, in 1994 Januzi became a member of the guerrilla unit “Rrufeja” which was led by his comrade and cousin, Hasan Zeneli. It was a time when the first organized groups in the Llapi area were consolidated thanks to the commitment and activity of the leader of this area, Zahir Pajaziti, who at that time was successfully expanding the groups and consolidating the ranks, not only in Llapi but also in Drenica and Dukagjin.
Januz Zeneli had shown himself ready to undertake armed guerrilla actions against the murderous Serbian police. On July 16, 1996, Januz Zeneli met in the village of Ballaban with Zahir Pajaziti, Rrustem Mustafa, Avni Ajeti and Naim Haziri.
On July 28, Januz Zeneli, together with Zahir Pajaziti, Hakif Zehjnullahu, Avni Ajeti, Hasan Zeneli, undertook an action to collect and then distribute weapons among the guerrilla units. On August 2, 1996, Januzi, together with Agim Makolli, a member of the guerrilla unit “Rrufeja”, attacked the police station in Orllan, which was commanded by the Serb, Stanko Dimić.
After the fall of Zahir Pajaziti, Edmond Hoxha and Hakif Zejnullah on January 31, 1997, in the village of Pestovë in Vushtrri and the torture and death of Besnik Restelica in the prison of Pristina, the comrades of Commander Zahir Pajaziti did not stop the patriotic liberation activity, but acted with the aim of re-aligning and consolidating the ranks.
On April 28, 1997, Januz Zeneli, together with Ismajl Sejdiu, Hasan Zeneli, Agim Makolli, Latif Brajshori and several other comrades, met at the Llapi Mosque in Pristina and decided to take action on the occasion of May Day of that year, to continue the path of commander Zahir Pajaziti.
In preparation for the actions, the Serbian Secret Service discovered the group and on April 28, Isak Shabani was arrested, while the next day the Serbian occupation police arrested: Januz Zeneli, Agim Makolli, while Ismail Sejdiu escaped and went to Albania where he joined Ilir Konushevci and his comrades.
Knowing about his activity, the Serbian police forces cruelly tortured Januz Zeneli, in order to obtain information about the activities of the guerrilla groups. Januzi stood his ground. There too, he endured all the torture and atrocities. On October 17, 1997, he died from the consequences in the Belgrade prison.
Januz Zeneli left behind sons: Remziu, Nebihu, Fatmir and Dema, as well as daughters Fexhrije, Metihe and Hava. The martyr’s family received gratitude from the General Staff, the Llapi Operational Zone and war associations. (AQ)
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https://www.radiokosovaelire.com/januz-salih-zeneli-10-4-1942-17-10-1997/
