Terror acts in J&K, youths joining outfits have dipped
NEW DELHI: Terrorist violence in Jammu & Kashmir saw a 25% drop in 2021 as compared to the corresponding period of last year, even as 20 Kashmiri youths have joined terrorist ranks so far this year against 167 in 2020.
According to sources in the central security establishment, 43 incidents of terrorist violence were recorded in J&K so far this year, down from 58 in the corresponding period of 2020. One civilian was killed against six in the corresponding period of last year.
The ceasefire announced on February 25, and which is holding so far, has seen a drop in infiltration even as the snow has begun to melt making high passes more accessible. Covering fire has been regularly used by Pakistan to facilitate infiltration. At least nine local youth reported as 'missing' and believed to have joined terror outfits have returned home this year.
Of the 20 J&K youth recruited by terror outfits so far in 2021, at least eight were either killed in encounters or arrested. An appeal was made to each terrorist trapped in the encounter, through his family members, to surrender. In fact, 15 terrorists were motivated by the security forces to surrender at various encounter sites in the past one year.
Efforts are on to get other terror recruits to return to the mainstream by getting their families to make similar appeals. While making sure that the identity of these "returnees" is not revealed, the J&K police is known to tactfully work upon their de-radicalisation by offering them counselling sessions, besides encouraging them to share their grievances, needs and interests so that these can be resolved by offering them skill development opportunities, jobs and even loans for a business start-up.
" The number of Kashmiris joining terrorism has decreased as compared to 2018," Jammu & Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh said.
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