‘Hybrid militancy biggest challenge for year 2022’
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday said that while the peaceful burial of senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani was a “major achievement” in the year 2021, the biggest challenge for the year 2022 will be dealing with the “hybrid” militants.
Hybrid militants, according to police, are those militants who aren’t categorized in police stations.
Addressing a year-end press conference at PCR Srinagar, Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that the burial of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani was the “major achievement” of the year as it remained peaceful.
“There was no law and order incident and burial remained peaceful. So I count this as the major achievement for police for the year 2021,” the IGP said.
He said that for the year 2022, “hybrid militancy” will remain the biggest challenge for the police.
“After examining various CCTV footage, it was observed that youngsters aged 17 years carry out attacks on armed forces personnel. These youngsters have not been categorized anywhere neither do we have their photographs in police stations,” the IGP said.
He said some politicians questioned the term ‘hybrid militants’ but the fact remains that “police coined the term in January 2021.”
The IGP Kashmir said that the second major challenge will be to prevent JK police personnel from becoming soft targets.
“Militants attacked unarmed police personnel. A few were killed while coming out of masjids, some while going to markets, and some while sleeping,” he said, adding that police will work to prevent such attacks in 2022.
He said that 168 militants are active in Kashmir at present and the number of locals and foreign militants is almost equal.
“We have made a list of 25 hybrid militants who aren’t categorized,” the IGP said. He said 171 militants were killed in the year 2021 and an almost equal number of pistols were recovered,” he added.
The IGP said, “Five US-made M-4 carbine guns were also recovered from slain JeM militants. Almost all top commanders were killed and only four are active in Valley now.
He said that 34 civilians were killed this year against 37 killed last year.
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