J K News Today
SRINGAR, November 22
Not more than 42 fresh faces have been added to ranks of militant groups after the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahadeen commander Burhan Wani since July 8 , but the pro- militant sentiment has gone up among the masses in the Valley.
This is the assessment of the internal agencies in Kashmir , particularly the state police , which has set up its own feedback units. Some portions of the assessment have been accessed by the Jammu Kashmir News Today , which already stand corroborated by the high ranking police officers.
Most of these 42 militants of varying backgrounds are from south Kashmir , which erupted immediately after the death of Burhan Wani, popular on social media. Burhan belonged to Tral in Pulwama district and was killed in forested area of Kokkernag in Anantnag district. Both these districts are in south Kashmir.
There were apprehensions of mass recruitment after Wani’s killing, which was followed by unprecedented participation of youth in his funeral. However, latest police data show that only around 42 missing youth are ranked as active militants, most of whom have joined Wani’s Hizbul Mujahideen and not the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), according to a report in Kashmir Observer. This assessment has been shared by the police sources with JKNT as well.
“Fresh recruits, including students and more religiously inclined youth, come from all four districts of south Kashmir. In the list are three youth from Anantnag, six from Shopian, seven from Pulwama and 10 from Kulgam. Thirteen others are still missing but have not been categorised as having joined the militants. From the north Kashmir districts, 16 youth are believed to have joined the militant ranks”, the report said.
