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J&K: Terrorist groups recruit 700 locals in four years, 69 this year

In the past four years, 700 youngsters from Jammu and Kashmir have joined terrorist organisations. Moreover, 141 terrorists, the bulk of whom are foreigners, are actively operating in the union territory, according to officials.  Large-scale infiltration from terror launch pads across the international border has exacerbated the presence of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Statistics from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs show that as of July 5, 2022, there were 59 active local terrorists and a total of 82 foreign terrorists operating in Jammu & Kashmir. According to an official, the terrorists are mostly affiliated with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, its spinoff The Resistance Front, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

In Jammu and Kashmir over the past four years, various terror organisations have recruited 700 local youths: 187 in 2018, 121 in 2019, 181 in 2020, and 142 in the last year. 69 youngsters have joined terror organisations by the end of last month. So far this year, security forces have engaged 55 terrorists and killed 125 of them. There were 91 natives and 34 foreigners among them.

In addition, 123 terrorists were detained during these confrontations, and a significant amount of weapons and ammunition were found in their possession. According to the statistics, 172 terrorists may have been captured in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021, 251 in 2020, 148 in 2019, and 185 in 2018. So far this year, terror attacks have claimed the lives of two security officials and wounded 23 others. This year, terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have claimed the lives of twenty people.

Terror incidents caused the deaths of 146 terrorists, three security personnel, and 41 civilians in 2021; 215 terrorists, 19 security personnel, and 38 civilians in 2020; 148 terrorists, 49 security personnel, and 46 civilians in 2019; and 185 terrorists, seven security personnel, and 72 civilians in 2018.

According to the data, a total of 63 security officers were wounded in terror-related events in 2021, 165 in 2020, 376 in 2019, and 765 in 2018.