Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police RR Swain Saturday claimed a total number of 55 foreign terrorists were eliminated in different anti-terrorist operations out of a total number of 76 terrorists in the year 2023, while an all-time low number of only 31 local terrorists were active, 4 in the Jammu region and 27 in the Kashmir valley. Swain added that no civilian death was reported while handling law and order duties this year. 

Referring to the prevailing situation in the frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the wake of an attack on two army vehicles in the Dera Ki Gali area of Surankote, DGP said, “We are cognizant of the matter and we will effectively deal with it”.

Swain admitted foreign terrorists are operating in the region claiming their number is not very high. He, however, admitted that some amount of support is coming from some select persons within our territory. Their numbers are very very limited; the real challenge is to identify people who are with them and provide logistic support.

Swain said the recruitment of local terrorists this year also witnessed a decline of almost 80 per cent.  Last year a total number of 130 local terrorists had joined the ranks of different terrorist outfits while this year only  22 local youth joined their ranks marking a decline of 80 per cent.

He said Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a very historic phase. To break the cycle of violence we have to stop local recruitment. Earlier a terror incident was reported every third day but now it is reported after every 9th or 10th day in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing an annual year-ender press conference here at police headquarters DGP RR Swain said, 291 terrorist associates were also arrested and 201 overground workers booked under the Public Safety Act in Jammu and Kashmir this year while two separatist organizations have been banned under UAPA this year which include Democratic Freedom Party led by Shabir Shah, and Muslim League led by Masarat Alam.