Slight increase in militant recruitment this year, no civilian killing in L&O situation
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 31: The Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Thursday said that 225 militants have been killed in over 100 anti-militancy operations across the Jammu and Kashmir in the outgoing year.
“Over 100 successful anti-militancy operations were carried out in Jammu and Kashmir this year in which 225 militants have been killed,” he told reporters here while giving the round up.
He said 207 militants were killed in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu region.
The DGP further said 60 security men including 16 policemen and 44 paramilitary and Army men were killed in militancy violence in 2020.
He said there were a dozen militants active in the Jammu region and the number has reduced to three now. “They are in Kishtwar district and we are tracking them”.
The DGP, however, said there has been a slight increase in the number of people joining militant ranks in comparison to 2019 but it is lower than 2018.
“However, the positive aspect is that 70 per cent of new recruits were either killed or arrested. The shelf life of militants has decreased,” he said.
The police chief said that there has been a significant decline in militancy -related incidents this year in comparison to 2018 and 2019 and added, “despite several attempts by Pakistan, cases of infiltration this year is lowest in the last three-four years. So, they had to rely on local recruits and they tried to supply weapons, explosive materials and cash to them through drones, most of these were foiled.”
Singh said that police and security agencies have cracked down on overground workers (OGWs) of militant outfits, who throw grenades or work as messengers and couriers.
“As many as 635 OGWs were arrested and 56 out of them were booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA),” he said. “During the year, 299 militant and their associates were arrested and 12 militants surrendered during the live encounters”.
The DGP said 426 weapons and over 9,000 ammunition and magazines, and a huge cache of explosive material were recovered and seized during anti-militancy operations.
There has been a decrease in the number of civilian killings this year.
“As many as 38 civilians were killed this year as compared to 44 last year,” Singh said.
The DGP further said there was no civilian killing during law and order situation in J&K this year.
Last year, he said, two civilians were killed during the law and order situation.