The year 2022 witnessed 93 encounters in Kashmir in which 172 militants were killed. The year also witnessed 37 per cent less militant recruitment while 360 weapons were recovered, said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar. The dead militants included 42 foreigners.
“Most slain militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba/TRF (108), followed by Jash-e-Muhamamd (35), Hizbul Mujahideen (22), Al-Badr (4) and Ansar Ghazwa Tul-Hind (AGH) (3),” Kumar said in a tweet.
He said, in 2022, 100 new militants joined militancy, which is 37 per cent less than last year. Among the fresh recruits, 65 were killed, 17 were arrested and 18 are still active. He said 360 weapons besides IEDs, sticky bombs and grenades were recovered which averted major tragedies.
“This year huge quantities of weapons (360) were recovered during encounters and modules’ busting which include 121 AK series rifles, 8 M4 Carbine & 231 pistols. Besides, timely seizure of IEDs, sticky bombs and grenades averted major terror incidents,” the ADGP Kashmir tweeted.
He said 29 civilians were killed by militants in 2022 and all the militants involved in such killings, except two, have been killed. He said 26 security personnel, including 14 J&K policemen, were killed in attacks and militants involved have been neutralised.
About law and order, he said the police achieved 100 per cent success in ensuring peace and stability. “From 2,897 cases of L&O incidents in 2016 to 26 minor cases in 2022. No civilian lost life in firing while handling L&O problems in more than 3 years,” he said.
About the anti-militancy operations, he said, “All chiefs and top commanders of terror outfits were neutralised except HM’s chief Farooq Nalli and LeT commander Reyaz Sethri. Both would be neutralised soon,” he said.
He said the police continuously identify potential militants through technical surveillance and human intelligence. “Besides, effective parents cooperate with J&K Police in this process. So far, more than two dozen boys have been brought back and are living happily with families,” the ADGP said.
He said they are focusing on effective actions on drug menace, too. “Total 946 cases were registered this year and 1,560 persons were arrested,” he said. “Besides 132 drug peddlers booked under PIT Act. Huge quantities of contraband seized including 11.8kg brown sugar, 46kg heroine and 200kg charas.”
