Militant numbers on decline but militancy alive: DGP

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Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 24: Director General of (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir Police, Dilbag Singh, today said that the number of militants is fast decreasing but the militancy is still alive in Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of J&K Police Martyrs’ Football tournament final match here, the DGP said that the number of militants and militancy related activities have started falling over the past couple of years.

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“But that doesn’t mean militancy is over. Militancy is still alive but the situation has indeed changed,” he said.
Singh said that as long as guns and grenades are available with the youth, innocent lives will continue to fall. He said that even a single grenade can injure several people and a single weapon can kill and threaten people.
“This is why we are taking action and we are at it to destroy their support system and OGWs who are giving them backup”, he added.
“I urge youth to surrender who are carrying pistols, guns and grenades in their hands due to provocations by Pakistan and are killing innocents. I must tell them that this path leads to destruction of their ownselves and society. I appeal them to adopt the path of peace,” the DGP said.
The DGP said that there is urgent need to give peace a chance and urged the youth who have taken to violence to shun it as it leads to destruction. “This place has seen enough of bloodshed. Elderly, women, children, youth and large number of security forces personnel including policemen have died in the past 30 years. The violence leads to destruction only”, he added.
Singh said that police are taking the preventive measures to dislodge the militancy infrastructure and also to act against militant supporters.
On militants targeting the Panchayat members, the DGP said that security assessments are being conducted and on the basis of that measures are being taken. “The security is being provided in districts and other places”, he added.
The DGP said that Srinagar youth played a great role in getting stones replaced with the balls be that football or cricket ball. “This indeed is a good achievement,” he added.
He said that in the tournament, 16 teams participated and today J&K Bank Football team clinched the title and won the trophy.
Singh said police will also organise the tournaments for female players including young girls.