Militant Recruitment Declined By 37% This Year, Maximum LeT Terrorists Killed: Kashmir Top Cop

Maximum 74 militants have joined Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and out of the total recruitment, 65 have been neutralised in encounters, 17 were arrested and 18 terrorists are still active, the ADGP said.

New Delhi: Kashmir Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Vijay Kumar on Saturday said a total of 172 militants, including 42 foreign militants, have been killed successfully in 93 operations in the Valley this year. He further said militant recruitment has shown a 37 per cent decline this year as compared to last year.

“During year 2022, total 93 successful encounters took place in Kashmir in which 172 terrorists including 42 foreign terrorists got neutralised. Maximum terrorists neutralised from LeT/TRF (108) outfit followed by JeM (35), HM (22), Al-Badr (4) and AGuH (3) outfits,” ADGP Kumar said.

The officer further said this year, 100 fresh recruitments into militant ranks have been reported, showing a decline of 37 per cent compared to last year.

Maximum 74 militants have joined Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and out of the total recruitment, 65 have been neutralised in encounters, 17 were arrested and 18 terrorists are still active, the ADGP said.

“The life span of newly recruited militants declined drastically. Out of total 65 newly recruited militants killed this year, 58 (89 per cent) were neutralised within first month of their joining," ADGP Kumar said, adding, “This year huge quantities of weapons (360) were recovered during encounters and modules' busting which include 121 AK series rifles, 08 M4 Carbine & 231 pistols. Besides, timely seizure of IEDs, Sticky Bombs and Grenades averted major militant incidents.”

Speaking on civilian killings, ADGP said 29 civilians were killed by terrorists, including 21 local residents (6 Hindus, including 3 Kashmiri Pandits, & 15 Muslims) and eight from other states.

“All terrorists involved in these terror crimes have been neutralised except Basit Dar & Adil Wani who will be neutralised soon,” he said.

The officer further said that they have observed two “remarkable changes” in the society.

“House owners started denying shelter to terrorists and Parents don’t feel proud if their wards join terrorism. Rather they appeal them to return, curse terrorists openly and work with JKP for the return of their wards,” said the ADGP.

BSF Captured 22 Drones, Killed 2 Pak Intruders This Year

In 2022, Border Security Force (BSF) troops of Punjab Frontier have detected and captured 22 drones, seized 316.988 kg heroin, 67 weapons, 850 rounds, killed two Pakistani intruders and apprehended 23 Pakistan nationals in different incidents. The BSF also handed over nine Pakistan nationals to Pak Rangers, who had inadvertently crossed the border, BSF said in a statement.

NIA Registered 73 Cases In 2022, An Increase By 19.7%

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered 73 cases in 2022 which is a 19.67 per cent increase from the 61 cases registered in 2021 and is an all-time high for the NIA. These cases include 35 cases of Jihadi terror in various states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, officials said.