88 Youth joined militant ranks across Kashmir in 2016: Govt

In what could be a serious concern for the government and security agencies, as many as 88 youth have joined different militant outfits this year, most of them in post-Burhan killing phase in Kashmir.
Over 100 local youths have gone missing from different parts of Kashmir. Out of these 100 missing youths, 88 have joined different militant outfits in Kashmir, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
“In 2016 maximum number of youth joined militant ranks since 2010,” Government said, adding, “66 in 2015, 53 in 2014, 16 in 2013 and 21 in 2012 have joined outfits.”
According to the Police records, from south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama, 32 youth have joined different militant outfits. The records suggest that from the central and north Kashmir 23 are missing, among them 13 have joined militancy.
The data compiled by police reveals that 32 youth have gone missing in south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama and the sub district of Awantipora. “Whereas 22 youth are missing from north Kashmir comprising of Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara and sub districts of Sopore and Handwara,” reveals the data.
It adds that out of these 32 missing youth, 10 youth hailing from Kulgam district and nine from neighboring Shopian have joined militant ranks. The assessment further reveals that six youth from Pulwama and three from its police district Awantipora have joined militant ranks. Pertinently, these are the areas, which have remained embroiled with street protests and violent clashes ever since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani.
Interestingly, there has been an increase in the number of incidents of rifle-snatching in the south Kashmir district and at least 37 weapons have been snatched by militants to replenish their dwindling arsenal and arm the new recruits.
On July 8, Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed along with two other militants in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district