104 local youths joined militancy in J&K since 2016: Govt

NEW DELHI: As many as 104 local youths of Jammu and Kashmir have joined the militancy since 2016 and 65 of them are currently active there, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said among the 104 local youths in Jammu and Kashmir who have joined the militancy in 2016-17, 12 were killed by security forces, 25 were arrested while two have surrendered.

Ahir said the state government has reported that during the counter-insurgency operations, 18 incidents of stone pelting were reported during the last two years.

He said that there were 371 incidents of attempts to infiltrate in Jammu and Kashmir from across the border in 2016 of which 119 were successful.

While 217 militants have returned, 35 were killed and three were arrested last year, he said.

Replying to another question, the Minister said Jammu and Kashmir has been affected by terror violence which is sponsored and supported from across the border.

"The levels of terrorist violence in the hinterland of Jammu and Kashmir are linked to the infiltration from across the border. The activities of separatist and militant outfits also remain a challenge in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.