J&K : Recruitment of local youths by militant group increases in Kashmir

J&K : Recruitment of local youths by militant group increases in Kashmir

According to the latest data compiled by the centre, as many as 23 youths have been recruited by militant groups during the first 19 days of the ceasefire.

Till April this year, on an average, 31 local youths were recruited by militant groups every month and the total number of recruitments made by the end of April was 125.

In May, the total number of recruitment made by militant groups rose to 55. During the first 19 days of Ramzan ceasefire alone, 23 local youths were roped into militancy.

Sources said most of the recruitments have been made from highly-volatile Shopian and Pulwama districts in South Kashmir ccording tistics of the ceasefire period from May 17-June 4, a total of 18 incidents of grenade lobbying, three encounters, three instances of weapon snatching, two cases of bank looting, two incidents of IED blasts and five firing incidents have occurred during the ceasefire period.

Security officials, however, said that the rise in recruitment of youths by militant groups cannot be directly linked to the ceasefire but it was a matter of concern.

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A senior security official, who did not wish to be named, said that recruitments made in May last year were also quite high. However, he admitted that there was certainly a sharp increase in incidents of grenade lobbying.

The official added that the militants of Kashmir based Hizbul Mujahideen had largely respected the ceasefire and the grenade and IED attacks were mostly being carried out by terrorists of Pakistani groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba.