We are targeting top militant leadership to curtail recruitment: IGP

Asserting that security agencies are targeting top militant leadership to curtail further recruitment of locals into these organisations, Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan on Monday claimed that the militancy is on the decline in Kashmir valley. Our appeal for surrender has witnessed tremendous response from the local militants, he said.

However, he refused to give the number of the militants, who have surrendered, citing security reasons. “Our appeal to the local militants has witnessed a tremendous response. But, it is not necessary for us to give you the number of militants who has surrendered in response to our appeal. We have to keep the security of these surrendered militants in view before giving any information to you,” Mr Khan, who was flanked by senior Army and CRPF officers, told reporters during a press conference here. Mr Khan added that the number of militants operating in the Valley has been on the decline due to continuous successful operations. But, he said, the main concern of security agencies is not the militants, who are operating in the Valley, but to curtail the new recruitment. “We want that there should be no further recruitment,” he added.

He said the security agencies are targeting the militant leadership as they are mostly involved in recruitment of young boys into their ranks. “Not less than a dozen commanders have been killed in encounters with security force agencies in the recent past,” he added. The IGP admitted that small groups -- two to three militants belonging to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) -- are operating in north, south and outskirts of central Kashmir. ''Top JeM commander Khalid alias Khalid Bhai was seen with three to four carders before he was killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir. So they are still there and we are trying to trace them,'' he said.

He further admitted that there are three to four militants operating in Srinagar outskirts as well and added that efforts are being made to trace them. Responding to a question, he said security agencies are verifying the reports that al-Qaeda's Kashmir unit chief Zakir Musa recently received 10 to 12 militants from across the Line of Control (LoC). To a question, if a foreign militant comes forward to surrender will it be accepted, the IGP said, ''It will be decided on the circumstance.''