JAMMU: Director General of Police (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir RR Swain said that there has been an 80 per cent decline in terror recruitments this year.
“There is an 80 per cent decline in terror recruitment this year. Year-on-year comparison shows that 130 locals joined terrorism in 2022 and this year, to date the number is 22. We will try to stop the recruitment completely which is essential to end the cycle of violence,” Swain said on Saturday at the annual press conference.
He added that whenever there is recruitment, the police forces take action and the “fallout follows, continuing the cycle”. However, he added that there was a change in pattern, observing that the decline is saving about 113 people from getting killed this year.
The DGP said that security agencies are committed to wipe out terrorism from the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. He stated at the annual press conference that terrorists were operating from hideouts inside forests with the support of “very limited” locals.
“There is a security situation in the Rajouri-Poonch belt but we will not like to discuss our strategy in public. However, as a matter of right for the public to know, there are mostly foreign terrorists operating with some amount of support from some selected persons within our region and there is no doubt about it,” he said.
The DGP added however that it is a challenge to identify the supporters of the terrorists, since the flow of information “becomes scarce”.
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“Obviously, it is a challenge and we are using all of our fighting strength and resources to counter them,” he said.
The forces are cognisant and committed in their resolve to effectively deal with and wipe out terrorism before it sprouts, he added.
RR Swain said the region was cleared of terrorists and there was peace between 1997 and 2003-04.
“We are mindful of the earlier situation and we are mindful of this situation as well. There is a gap and we will not allow this gap to be breached in their favour,” DGP said.
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DGP said a total of 76 terrorists, including 55 foreign terrorists were neutralised, 291 terrorist associates arrested and 201 Over Ground Workers booked under the Public Safety Act in Jammu and Kashmir this year.
Swain further said that only 31 local terrorists – an all time low – are left in the Union Territory, while the recruitment of locals into terrorism has witnessed a drop of 80 per cent this year.
“In 48 anti-terrorist operations, we have neutralised 76 terrorists, including 55 foreigners. The trend of foreign terrorists getting killed more starting in 2022 and continued this year, making it clear that our actual fight is against infiltrators,” he said, asserting that the anti-terrorism operations will continue next year with more vigour.
He said there are 31 identified local terrorists – four in Jammu region’s Kishtwar and 27 in the valley – who are active and the number is at an all-time low.
The DGP said that against 31 civilian killings by terrorists last year, the number dropped to 14 this year and the terror-related incidents declined from 125 in 2022 to 46 in 2023, recording a drop of 63 per cent.
“Four policemen including a Dy SP and an Inspector were martyred this year, against 14 last year, thus recording a 71 per cent decline,” DGP said.
He said 291 terror associates, who provide logistic support, work as guides and identify targets, were arrested this year compared to 373 last year.
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“We have strengthened the record building and surveillance system by utilising technology and a repeat offender can now be easily identified and ensured a maximum sentence,” DGP added.
The DGP said 201 – 171 in Kashmir and the rest in Jammu zone – were detained under the PSA, while 89 terror modules, including 78 in Kashmir and 11 in Jammu, were busted this year.
RR Swain said 18 terrorist hideouts were unearthed with 12 in the valley and six in Jammu region. He said 99 properties, linked to terrorism and separatism, worth more than Rs 170 crore, were attached including 57 by the State Investigation Agency. Besides, several bank accounts were frozen in addition to the recovery of cash, he added.
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DGP said police identified 8,000 fake social media accounts, mostly working from outside the country and appropriate legal action against all those were ensured.
He said the strike calls and stone-pelting continue to show a downward trend and compared to 2021-22, this year it was the lowest.
“There was zero response to organised strike calls from separatists and terrorists operating from across the border, giving a silent endorsement from a common man who wants peace and development.”
Swain said as many as 250 narcotic smugglers were booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir this year.
DGP said 15 cases of narco-terror came to light during the year and that the police will seek help from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Interpol to take legal action against the masterminds sitting in different foreign countries, including Turkey.
