More locals join militants in J&K, killing also sees a spike

New Delhi: The number of youths who joined militants and those killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir saw a sharp increase, a year after J&K was made a UT. Nearly 300 local youths joined militant ranks, are overground workers who provide logistics to militants and are also involved in attacks on security forces, ET has learnt. An assessment of the security forces says 120 youths between 16 and 25 have joined militancy in south Kashmir alone.

The numbers were less in north Kashmir. According to official data, terrorist incidents were low at 210 from January to October, compared to the previous three years. Local militants killed in the period was over 160, compared to 110 in 2019. According to home ministry officials, more overground workers (OGW) and militants were arrested this year by the Army, BSF and J&K Police.

As many as 270 OGW and 20 active militants were held this year, compared to 65 last year. Number of foreign militants declined compared to 2019. Officials said this could be due to measures against Pakistan by the Financial Action task Force but admitted terrorists with affiliation to Pak-based Lashkare-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad are at the border, trying to infiltrate. The lull in infiltration could partially be due to Covid related constraints.


In 2020, 20 foreign militants were killed by forces. It was 30 in 2019. Security forces have lost 48 policemen compared to 80 last year. In the latest incident, Inspector Mohammad Ashraf Bhat was shot dead by militants on Sunday.