40% drop in youth joining militancy in Kashmir, security forces maintain tight vigil

A year after the abrogation of Article 370, militancy has been on the backfoot in J&K as security forces intensify action

GR News Desk | Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir have seen bloodshed for over three decades now, and the situation is still serious as the security forces continue a tight vigil across the state. With summers at its peak, there has been a rise in infiltration from across the border and nearly 250 militants are active in the valley, according to security forces.

While the government had hoped that militancy, which has seen a surge since the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani in the valley, would come down following the August 5 decision to abrogate Article 370, the encounters have increased in the past few months. However, the number of local youths joining militant ranks has dropped by more than 40 per cent.

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According to a bi-annual report of the Civil Society Organization of Jammu and Kashmir, a human rights organisation, between January 01 and June 30 of this year, there have been 229 killings in different incidents of violence in the Kashmir Valley, in which 32 civilians, 54 Security forces lost their lives, while 143 militants were gunned down. It also includes the casualty of three children and two women. At the same time, 107 cordon and search operations took place in Jammu and Kashmir. In these six months, there were 57 encounters between the armed forces and militants in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs claims that since the removal of Article 370, militant related incidents have reduced in Kashmir and the situation is moving towards normalcy. According to the report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, since the removal of article 370, 36 percent militant-related activities have decreased in the valley. In 2019, there have been 188 militant-related incidents in the Kashmir Valley from 01 January to 15 July, while in 2020, this number has come down to 120 in the same period.

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As per the report of MHA 126 militants were killed in 2019, while 136 militants were killed in 2020 so far. From January 1 2019 to July 25, 2019, there were 51 grenade attacks in Kashmir while in 2020 there have been only 21 grenade attacks.

Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), which has the largest presence in the valley, suffered the highest casualties of more than 50 militants including its commander Riyaz Naikoo. The militant commander was killed in an encounter with security forces in May this year.

According to the report of the Ministry of Home Affairs in the year 2019, between January 01 and July 15, 75 security personnel and 23 civilians were killed in several incidents, while in 2020, 35 soldiers and 22 civilians were killed. Only 1 IED attack occurred in the year 2020, although in 2019 there were 6 such attacks.

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