Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 18: General Officer Commanding (GOC) counter-insurgency Kilo Force, Major General A K Singh today said the majority of the youth in North Kashmir are not influenced to join militancy as they understand that guns and violence is no solution.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in North Kashmir’s Handwara area of Kupwara district, the GOC said that small percentage of youth are picking up arms and many youths are making their mark in sports and education. He said that majority of the youth understand that guns cannot solve any problem.
Gen Singh said that Army is providing every possible help for the youth. “Army is providing every possible help to the youth who work hard for the betterment of their future. We have launched several initiatives in this direction and have received an overwhelming response from the youth, “he said.
Asked why youth are joining militancy in North Kashmir’s Lolab area despite being the strong Army presence, he said: “Only two people have joined the militancy. There are hundreds of other youths there who have stayed away from militancy and Army is providing them all the support they need.”
The GOC said Army is trying to bring those people into the mainstream who have joined militancy. “The families of these militants have also requested them to return home and termed their step as wrong”, he said.
Asked about the number of militants waiting on the launch pads across the border, Maj Gen Singh said that militants are ready on launch pads for infiltration. “I won’t be able to tell you the exact number but militants present there are prepared to infiltrate through the border. The Army is ready to foil any such attempts”, he said.
In the meantime, security forces today launched a cordon and search-operation in Veeri village of Bijbehara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district after reports of presence of militants in the village.
Army, CRPF and the SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched the operation after receiving information about the presence of militants in Veeri village. They conducted house to house searches. However, no militant was found and no one was arrested.
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