Jammu and Kashmir: The youths—both 16 years of age and hail from south Kashmir. (Photo Credit: File Photo)
New Delhi:
Two youths who had made a bid to cross over to Pakistan to join a militant outfit were arrested and handed over to their families after counselling, the Army said on Saturday. “It has been the constant endeavour of security forces that the misguided youth be brought back to mainstream and be prevented from joining militancy. In one such endeavour, two youths intending to cross the LoC have been brought back and reunited with their families today,” an Army spokesman said.
He said the youths—both 16 years of age and hailing from south Kashmir -- were influenced by the false narrative and the rhetoric created by anti-national elements to lure them to join a militant outfit.
After the security forces learnt about their intention to cross the LoC, they launched synergised and concerted efforts to apprehend them, the spokesman said.
“Their movements were tracked closely and all our teams were instructed to apprehend them alive so that they can be brought back to mainstream,” he said.
On Friday, three Jaish-e-Mohammed militants were killed in a fierce gunbattle with police at a toll plaza on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway here, officials said.
A group of three-four militants were intercepted at the Bann toll plaza, about 28 km from Jammu city, when they were trying to enter the Kashmir Valley on a truck.
Police suspect the terrorists might have infiltrated through the International Border in Kathua district to carry out an attack.
One of the terrorists was killed in the ensuing gunfight while the others managed to escape to the nearby forest area, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh told news agency PTI. He said a policeman was injured in the incident.
He said the militants belonged to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
The truck driver and conductor were arrested, the DGP said.
The Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed and the entire forest belt was cordoned off. After a gunbattle, two more terrorists were killed.
Choppers, drones and sniffer dogs have been inducted into joint operations to track down the fourth terrorist as a massive search operation rages up, they said.
