According to police, 18 militants were active in Baramulla at the beginning of 2018, 13 of whom were killed in encounters, and a few others were forced out of the district.
Srinagar, January 25:
After three militants were killed in an encounter in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Police said Baramulla has become the first police district in the Valley that no longer has any militants. There are 13 police districts in Kashmir.
“…Baramulla has become first district of Kashmir with no surviving militant as on date. J-K Police extends its thanks to the local population for all their support in providing a better security environment in the district,” the police said in a statement.
“DGP J&K compliments the Police for their successes and expects further consolidation of peace building efforts together by police and public.”
Who is a militant in police records?
A militant is a person who has picked up a weapon and has joined a militant group fighting against the state. The district police categorise militants according to their involvement in militancy-related activities. The categories are A++, A+, A, B, and C. The killing of a militant in each category carries a different monetary reward and incentives.
When is a district deemed militant-free?
This happens when there is no militant listed as active in police records — as the police say has now happened in Baramulla district. “We don’t have any listed militant from the district at present. There is nobody in our record who is a militant either in our district, or any militant who belongs from Baramulla and is active in any other district,” Baramulla SSP Imtiyaz Hussain said. However, “that doesn’t mean that militants who are in the neighbouring town can’t come to this place. It is quite possible,” Hussain said.
How has Baramulla achieved this?
According to police, 18 militants were active in Baramulla at the beginning of 2018, 13 of whom were killed in encounters, and a few others were forced out of the district. “Our focus was to prevent people from joining militancy. In 2018, only one boy was recruited, and unfortunately he got killed. We dismantled the base of militant support and also worked hard to prevent people from joining militant ranks,” SSP Hussain said.
Courtesy: Indian Express
