The number of local youths joining militancy in Kashmir Valley went up to 126 in 2017, a sharp increase from 88 the year before, IOK Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti informed the Assembly here Tuesday
SRINAGAR, (Pakistan Point News - 06th Feb, 2018 ) The number of local youths joining militancy in Kashmir Valley went up to 126 in 2017, a sharp increase from 88 the year before, IOK Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti informed the Assembly here Tuesday. "As many as 66 youths joined militancy in 2015, 88 in 2016 and 126 in 2017," the chief minister said while replying to a written question by National Conference leader Ali Mohammed Sagar. According to data placed before Parliament in March last year, there has been a steady increase in the number of youths taking up arms in the Valley from 2014 onwards, as compared to 2011, 2012 and 2013.
The spurt in locals joining militancy began after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen group's poster boy Burhan Wani in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8, 2016. Security officials feel there is a difference between present day militants and those of the early 1990s. The ideological conviction of the present lot is stronger than that of the terror groups during the early days, they said. There is concern that the Valley is witnessing a trend of 'pan-Islamisation', where young boys are opting for terrorism knowing full well that they are at the risk of being killed, the officials said.
National Conference leader Ali Mohammed Sagar's question in the Assembly also related to separatists detained in the past three years. According to Mehbooba, certain separatist leaders, including two women, were detained under provisions of the Public Safety Act to prevent them from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the state or maintenance of the public order. The 228 convicted prisoners include eight women. Besides, there are 2,156 undertrials, including 88 women. Of the 213 detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and NDPS Acts, one is a woman, she said.
