Srinagar (INS): Following the footballer-turned militant Majid Khan’s suit, another militant is south Kashmir has returned to his home after his parents has appealed to shun the path and return back, police said on Monday.
Police on Monday tweeted, that “Responding to the appeal of parents, one more youth who had joined militants returned home in South Kashmir.
J&K police, paramilitary forces and Army have made a joint appeal to local militants recently, asking them to return to the “mainstream”.
When contacted a top police officer over the development, he refused to give details of the youth, saying the security and safety of the individual concerned was paramount.
The appeal was made days after young footballer Majid Arshid Khan from south Kashmir shunned militancy and returned following an appeal by his mother.
“A large number of boys, who were ready to join militants, were weaned away and counselled,” IG (operations), CRPF, Zulfiqar Hassan, said at a press meet in Srinagar. The joint press meet was also attended by J&K DGP S P Vaid, General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps, Lt Gen J S Sandhu, and IGP, Kashmir, Muneer Khan.
Lt Gen Sandhu said, “You see, there are two lines of operations we look at. One line is counter-terrorism, wherein we are targeting terrorists. The other line of operation, which the IGP, CRPF, and DGP highlighted, is that we want the local terrorists to return to the mainstream…”
According to INS, in the last few months, security forces have launched a massive clampdown against home-grown militants, killing more than 180, the highest numbers in almost a decade.
But this massive clampdown has also backfired with an increase in the number of Kashmiri youths joining militancy.
Since July this year, at least 50 locals have joined the militancy, a majority of whom are from south Kashmir. At least 70 militants have been killed this year.
However, according to data available with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, there are another 150 active militants in north and south Kashmir. (INS)
