Around 39 youth have joined the militant ranks in last 45 days according to the latest police report, the Hindu newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper the operations carried out by the government forces this year against local militants has “flipped their recruitment which doubled,” especially after the April 1 operation that left 13 locals dead in coordinated operations, according to the fresh data on militancy released by the police.

The newspaper quoting the figures collated by the police from the militancy hub of south Kashmir, comprising four districts, 69 local youths joined militancy since January this year.

“Of them, 35 joined immediately after the multiple operations were conducted on April 1 in a major offensive against militancy in south Kashmir”, the newspaper quoted the police report as revealing.

“In first 90 days of this year, over 30 locals joined the militant ranks but in just 45 days, since April 1, the figure doubled to 69,” revealed the police report.