Decrease in number of local youths joining militancy in J&K in 2019: DGP

J&K DGP Dilbag Singh said as many as 160 terrorists were killed and 102 arrested in 2019, while 250 ultras were still active.

December 31, 2019 06:08 pm | Updated 07:46 pm IST - Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh. File

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh. File

As many as 160 terrorists were killed and 102 arrested in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, while 250 ultras were still active, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said on Tuesday, noting that the number of local youths joining militancy has decreased.

He said there has been a 30% fall in terrorist incidents, a decrease in civilian killings and a 36% decrease in law and order incidents as compared to the previous year.

“218 such [local] youths joined militant outfits in 2018 but only 139 joined in 2019,” Mr. Singh said at the annual press conference at the police headquarters here.

Out of these new recruits, only 89 have survived. “The rest have been eliminated as their shelf life is between 24 hours to 2-3 months after joining militancy. There are hardly a few old terrorists surviving, which include Jehangir Saroori and Riyaz Nayikoo”, he said.

Also read | 145 days of internet shutdown in Kashmir, no word on service restoration

There have been only 481 law and order incidents this year as compared to 625 last year, he said

“250 terrorists have been active in Jammu and Kashmir. There is a decrease in the number of active militants as compared to last year,” Mr. Singh said.

Around 80% of the anti-terror operations were successful and 160 terrorists, including foreigners, had been killed during the year.

“Eleven valiant police personnel from Jammu and Kashmir, besides 72 from other other security forces, have been martyred,” he said.

Mr. Singh said 102 terrorists have been arrested and 10 terrorists surrendered during the year.

Also, there was no collateral damage during anti-terror operations as people fully cooperated. “There was zero law and order problems this year [during anti-terror operations],” he added.

The DGP said that “there has been a high degree of incidents of infiltration attempts from across the border this year and also ceasefire violations. But security forces have successfully foiled these attempted as 130 infiltrators have entered in 2019 as compared to 143 last year".

Replying to queries on the restoration of Internet services, the DGP said it is under consideration.

“I think Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards such a situation [on the law and order front]. Very soon you will hear a positive announcement,” Mr. Singh said.

He said that though some people will try to misuse the Internet, “in the past, we took care of them and we will take care of such people in the future too".

Internet services in all government-run hospitals and SMS to all mobile phones will be restored from December 31 midnight in the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir official spokesman Rohit Kansal said on Tuesday.

Mobile Internet services were restored in Kargil district of Ladakh on Friday after remaining suspended for 145 days in the wake of the Centre abrogating provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, officials said.

Internet services were suspended on August 5, when the Centre announced the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the State into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

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