80 youth joined militants this year from South Kashmir only: Police

Pulwama: Top security forces officials Saturday said that around 80 youth joined various militant ranks this year in South Kashmir districts alone while as seven out of eight new recruits were killed in separate encounters so far.

Addressing a joint press conference in Pulwama, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police South Kashmir range, Atul Goel, said around 80 local youth from South Kashmir districts joined different militant organizations this year several of whom have already been killed, few arrested and some have surrendered.

“The seven militants including two commanders killed in the past 24 hours were involved in several attacks on security forces and civilians. Their killing is a big success for security forces,” the police officer added.

Speaking on the occasion, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Victor Force, Major General A Sengupta, said that seven out of the eight militants who had joined militancy this year were killed in Shopian and Pulwama districts so far.

“These youth were misguided with false promises by Pakistani militants, handlers and other people who have anti-national sentiments,” he said adding that number of militancy-related incidents is very low as there is “leadership crisis” in all militant organizations.

The GOC Victor Force said that militants are making “desperate attempts to recruit and misguide more and more youth.”

“Militants are now resorting to harassment of civilians but their every attempt is being foiled on the ground,” the army officer said.

Commenting on the surrender of a militant at Kiloora Shopian on Friday in which four militants were killed, commander of army’s 12 sector Brigadier, Ajay Katoch, appealed to all active militants to surrender and assured that army will facilitate that and help them live a dignified normal life.

“I would appeal all active militants to surrender. We will provide them whatever support they need so that they can live a normal life,” he said. KNO