Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar Thursday said that for the first time in the past 30 years of militancy in Kashmir, the number of active militants in the Valley has come down to less than 200 while the number of local militants active is just 86.
The Kashmir police chief also said since last night, six militants including two foreigners and a soldier were killed in two separate encounters in southern districts of Anantnag and Kulgam.
For the first time since the eruption of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the number of active militants in Jammu and Kashmir has fallen below 200. This was stated by IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar at a press meet with General officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lieutenant General D P Pandey, SSP Anantnag Ashish Kumar Mishra and other officials from police and army at 2 Sector RR headquarters, in the Wuzur area of Qazigund, in south Kashmir.
The press conference was held to share the details about the two encounters at Anantnag and Kulgam in which six Jaish-e-Muhammaf (JeM) militants were killed. One soldier was also killed while one policeman and a soldier were injured.
“The slain soldier was identified as sepoy Jasbir Singh,” Pandey said. “ Those injured are stable.’’
About foreign militants getting killed in encounters, he said that local militants are refusing to attack forces due to their own challenges. “As the foreigners would come out of their hide-outs, they will be killed,” he said.
Mishra said one US-made M-4 carbine, eight magazines, two AK 47 rifles and other ammunition were recovered from slain JeM militants.
Kumar said that in the past five days, 11 militants were killed including the six in two operations since last night.
The GOC of 15 Corps said in 2021, only 128 to 130 locals joined militancy compared to 180 last year. Elaborating on the militant recruitment, IGP Kashmir said that of the 128 local militants who joined militancy this year, 73 were killed, 17 were arrested while 39 are active.
