Year 2017 may have been one of the most successful years for the security forces in the last one decade as they killed over 200 terrorists in trouble-torn Jammu & Kashmir. The challenge will remain in the New Year too. Nearly 150 locals from Kashmir Valley have joined terrorist outfits in 2017, the highest in the last 10 calendar years. While 117 locals joined terrorist ranks till November this year, December witnessed the highest joining with nearly 30 youths taking up the gun.
The Army has another reason to be cautious. The intense winter months have not deterred the terrorist ‘tanzeems’ (organisations) from carrying out their plan to entice gullible youth to join their ranks. In the past, terrorists lied low, this time round their recruitment drive is at its peak. The “tap of new recruitment is still open,” officials in the security establishment admitted.
They also conceded that neutralisation of top leadership of terror groups has not entirely defanged them, which was evident from the burgeoning number of youths picking up the gun despite knowing their life span will be short-lived.
“Given the ground position, there is hardly any reason for self-patting in neutralising or killing more than 200 terrorists. The fact that the number of youths joining the terrorist rank is swelling is cause of serious concern,” officials said.
The number of misguided youths returning to normal life is just around 10,” they said.
South Kashmir, which witnessed mass scale unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last year in July, has emerged as the biggest contributor to the terrorist organisations in terms of youths. One of its districts Pulwama alone has seen 45 youths crossing the fine line from legal to illegal.
The other three districts of South Kashmir -- Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag -- have also registered the same phenomenon though in lesser numbers, they said. Central and North Kashmir regions are other two providing fighters to the terror tanzeems.
As regards comparative statistics, 88 youths joined terror organizations in 2016, 66 in 2015, 53 in 2014, 16 in 2013, 21 in 2012. This year is the first in which the figure has crossed the 100 mark and operational commanders fear that the coming months will see a further rise.
Experts feel that there was a need to reach out to the masses through political and administrative means to prevent radicalisation of gullible minds and relative peace as levels of violence have come down has given that window of opportunity. Officials said the State and Central Governments are aware of the threats of radicalisation and efforts are on at the local level to wean away the youth from propaganda unleashed by unscrupulous elements.
