Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 7, 2011
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Over-250-militants-active-in-JK-Police/articleshow/8763144.cms
Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday said there
are an estimated 250 to 300 militants active in the state.
"We do not count militants like that,
the general estimate is around 250 to 300, 100 odd may be more active type
of militants," director general of police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda told reporters
on sidelines of a function here.
Going by the estimates, this is the lowest
number of militants to be active in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 20 years,
when an armed insurgency began in the state.
The strength of militants was believed to
be highest in early 1990s when their number was estimated to be around 10,000
to 15,000.
The DGP, however, said the militancy is not
finished in the state yet.
"The efforts from across (the Line of
Control) are still on. The capability and intention from across to continue
with militancy is still on, so we have to be alert," the police chief
said.
In central Kashmir which comprises the districts
of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal, police estimates the presence of 15 militants.
Most of the militants in the central Kashmir
are active in the peripheries of Budgam district, which lies close to the
Pir Panjal mountain range.
"There are no active militant bases
in Srinagar city. There is some presence of Jaish-e-Mohammad in peripheries
of Budgam district and two militants are active in the Ganderbal district,"
a senior police officer had said last week.
