Terrorism is in decline and militancy is at an all-time low in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory’s police chief has said.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh has revealed that the number of militants in the erstwhile state is at an all-time low and for the first time since the insurgency began in the early 90s, the number of militants currently active in the Kashmir valley has dropped below 70.

The top cop said that the police and security forces have succeeded the breaking the back of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir by various methods such as the crackdown against stone pelters and separatists and their financiers along with curbing infiltration on the borders and seizing weapons dropped via drones from across the Line of Control (LoC).

DGP Singh said the sustained efforts of the police and security forces have manage to curb militancy and brought the number of active militants in the valley down to two digits which, as per records, number 350 in 2017, adding that militancy will soon be over in the former state and peace will prevail.

Reports quoting an internal assessment by the J&K Police says that at present there are 29 active militants in the Union Territory and only three of them—Hizbul Mujahideen operation commander Farooq Ahmed Bhat alias Nali, Javed Ahmed Mattoo and Riyaz Ahmed alias Shetari—are said to be old timers while the rest are new recruits.

As pre intel gathered by central agencies, 20 to 24 foreign terrorists are currently active in Jammu and Kashmir while it’s believed 30-35 terrorists are local.

Earlier today, an intruder was shot dead as the army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

According to an official statement, a gunfight ensued between the army and intruders who had tried to sneak into the Indian side from across the LoC near Guntarian village in Poonch district on the intervening night of April 8-9.

A defence spokesman said that alert troops guarding the border picked up the movement of the terrorists along the LoC in Shahpur sector and challenged them in the early hours of the day, leading to a firefight which continued for hours.

In the encounter one intruder was shot dead while his accomplices ran into the forest area, the spokesman said, adding that the area has been cordoned off and a massive search operation is currently underway to hunt down the intruders who fled into the woods.

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This drive is the first major operation in Kashmir since last year when army operations were stopped due to large-scale protests and stone pelting

Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district saw a massive anti-terror operation being launched after a series of attacks and videos showing large groups of terrorists moving freely in the area.

This is the first major operation in Kashmir since last year when Army operations were stopped due to large-scale protests and stone pelting.

Reports said more than 3,000 personnel of the Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police are participating in the operation launched on Thursday morning.

A number of videos showing large groups of heavily armed terrorists marching have been circulating.

Since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in July last year, around 100 local youth have reportedly joined the militancy.

In the last three days, terrorists have snatched nine rifles after attacking police in Kulgam and Shopian. Three banks have also been looted by terrorists.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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