After suffering major setbacks in the form of loss of their main leaders this year, the terrorist outfits in the state have started luring teenagers to meet serious crunch of new recruits.
This became evident when a joint column of Rashtriya Rifles and the JK police rescued four teenagers from the house of Nissar Sheikh, a resident of Sheikh Mohalla, Keshwan in district Kishtwar on Wednesday at 12.30 am.
According to police reports, during interrogation, the children revealed that they were leaving to join the ranks of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and lured by a local ultra. They were handed over to their parents. This was the second incident of its kind in the past 10 days in the state.
The teenagers rescued have been identified as Saddam Hussain, 15, Naeem Ahmed, both 14 years and residents of Nagini, Khalid, 15 years, Amir Ahmed, 15 years, both residents of Kishtwar. Earlier on May 4, the forces had intercepted six boys in Kashmir division trying to cross over to the other side of border for arms training. Meanwhile, the security forces also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Narol forest in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district.
Reports revealed that on a tip off, a joint column of police, 39 Rashtriya Rifles and 152 CRPF conducted a search operation in the Narol forest area. The suspected area was cordoned off and during the search the troops noticed a natural hideout of terrorists which was smashed.
The recoveries made from the busted hideout included one pistol with one magazine, 45 AK rounds, one radio set I-Com, 2 kilogram TNT explosive, one shell, one blanket, some footwear, one mat, snacks and dryfruits.