Srinagar: The J&K Police have thwarted a major militant plan to replenish their depleting numbers by arresting 54 youths before they could join militancy. A police spokesman said 54 youths, who were planning to join militant ranks, had been arrested from different districts of the Kashmir zone in the past six months.

Srinagar: The J&K Police have thwarted a major militant plan to replenish their depleting numbers by arresting 54 youths before they could join militancy. A police spokesman said 54 youths, who were planning to join militant ranks, had been arrested from different districts of the Kashmir zone in the past six months.

“Out of these, 28 youths have been arrested in Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore, Handwara and Bandipora districts of the North Kashmir range. Thirteen youths have been arrested in the Central Kashmir range while an equal number of youths have been arrested in Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian, Awantipora and Kulgam in south Kashmir,” the spokesman said.

Only last week, four boys, who were planning to cross the Line of Control for arms training, were arrested from Kupwara. Of these four boys, one had motivated the other three to get arms training. He had been sent to a juvenile home, he said.

“Though arms and ammunition were recovered from many of the arrested youths, some of them were sent back to their families after counselling. By doing so, their families have been saved from the adverse effects of militancy,” the spokesman said.

Police sources said around 250 militants are active in Kashmir and a majority of them are locals. In the past few years, local recruitment has seen an increase and this year so far over 30 youths have joined militancy in Kashmir.