Kashmir has seen a significant decline in domestic militancy, with official figures indicating that there is now only one active local terrorist operating in the region. During a press conference in Srinagar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone, Sujit Kumar, stated on Thursday that the valley has recorded zero new local recruits into terrorist ranks throughout this year, describing the recruitment process as having completely dried up.
Police have formally identified the lone active local militant as Mohammad Lateef Bhat, a resident of Khrewan Chader village located in the Kulgam district of south Kashmir. Authorities have taken significant measures to secure his apprehension, announcing a reward of Rs 15 lakh in August for any information leading to his arrest. Bhat is currently accused of involvement in the killing of a head constable and two migrant workers during separate incidents that occurred in Anantnag and Kulgam this past July. Investigators believe that Bhat initially joined militant ranks sometime last year.
Addressing the presence of foreign militants in the region, the Inspector General noted that while security forces are actively tracking a handful of foreign terrorists believed to be operating in the area, providing an exact numerical estimate would be inaccurate. He explained that these individuals remain highly mobile, frequently changing their locations, which makes confirming a static figure difficult and potentially exaggerated. Security forces remain focused on these elements as they continue their counter-insurgency operations across the valley.
The security environment in Kashmir has been closely monitored following a notable terrorist attack on July 22, which claimed the life of head constable Ashiq Hussain. This incident marked a return of violence following a significant period of relative calm in the region, which had not seen a major terrorist strike since the attack on April 22 last year, which involved the deaths of 25 tourists and a local pony operator in the Pahalgam area.
In response to the evolving threat landscape, police are also reviewing security protocols regarding civilian traffic movement during Army convoy transits. Following the security concerns flagged by the Pahalgam attack, officials had previously imposed restrictions on civilian traffic, a policy that has recently faced scrutiny. Health Minister Sakina Itoo raised concerns on October 30 regarding the impact of these highway closures, noting that they had led to ambulances becoming stranded and students missing critical class time. The IGP confirmed that this matter remains under active consideration and is slated for discussion with other relevant security and administrative agencies.
Beyond counter-terrorism efforts, the police provided an update on the crackdown against narcotics-related violence, often termed as "narcoterrorism." According to the latest data, law enforcement registered 1,651 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act this year. These operations resulted in the arrest of 1,941 individuals and the seizure of 1,711 kg of contraband materials. The financial investigation into these networks has also been substantial, with over Rs 1 crore in cash seized, properties valued at Rs 154 crore attached, and 567 bank accounts associated with these illicit activities frozen as part of the ongoing effort to dismantle the economic infrastructure supporting such crimes.
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