Stating that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant outfits were involved in bank robberies, a senior police officer on Monday revealed that 95 local youth have joined militancy in the past one year.
“Investigation revealed terrorists of Laskar-e-Taiba and Hizbul were involved in recent cases of bank loot in south Kashmir,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, SJM Gilla told reporters here while addressing a press conference.
Four incidents of bank loot took place in Kashmir in the first four days of this month and currency worth lakhs was taken away. Fearing more robberies, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank on Saturday decided to stop cash transactions in 40 of its branches in Shopian and Pulwama districts of south Kashmir.
On the number of active militants in the Valley, the IGP said, “There are around 200 terrorists hiding in the Kashmir Valley at present and 110 of them are locals. 95 of them joined militant ranks in last one year.”
Responding to questions about students pelting stones at the security forces, Gillani said, "Some students were instigated by outside elements to pelt stones by giving them money. I appeal to the parents of students to counsel them."
He promised action “as per law” on the police crackdown on Degree College Pulwama on April 15 that triggered widespread student protests across the valley.
The IGP Kashmir also said that ban on social media will be reviewed after the one month period is over. “The impact of the ban (on social media) will be assessed at the end of the one-month period,” he added.
To avoid the misuse social media to stoke passions, the J&K government had on April 26 ordered suspension of 22 sites, including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, in the violence-hit Valley.
In its order, the government had said that as per available inputs, over a period of time, a progressively increasing trend has been witnessed with regard to misuse of social media, like Facebook, Twitter etc by the elements inimical to public order and tranquillity, thereby impinging on public safety, particularly in the Kashmir Valley.