Police bust recruitment, rescue 54 youths from terror clutches

Terrorists are licking their wounds after Jammu and Kashmir police thwarted their plan and arrested 54 boys before they could be pushed into the quagmire of terror and replenish their depleting ranks in the restive state.

"Of these, 28 youth have been arrested in the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore, Handwara and Bandipora of North Kashmir. Thirteen youth have been arrested in Central Kashmir Range. Equal number of youth have been arrested in districts of Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian, Awantipora and Kulgam of South Kashmir Range", said a police spokesman.

Police also arrested four boys who were attempting to cross the Line of Control for arms training in Kupwara district. "The parents and the people of the area have hailed the efforts of the Kupwara police. Three of the youth were handed over to their parents while one of them and his motivator were sent to juvenile home," said the spokesman.

Police said though arms and ammunitions are recovered from many of the arrested youth, some of them were handed over to their families after counselling. "By doing so their families are saved from the adverse affects of the militancy," he said.

There are 225 to 250 terrorists operating in the valley of which 110 are locals and rest foreign elements, mostly from Pakistan. Ninety five of them are new recruits who joined the terrorist ranks last year.