We'll Not Kill You, IGP Munir Khan To Militants — Surrender

"They are the ones who lure youth into militancy", Khan said. "Most of them [militant recruits] are either school or college dropouts", Mr. Khan said.

Also on Tuesday, security forces busted a militant hideout in Laam village in Pulwama district, official sources said.

Khan told news agency ANI that one of the three terrorists arrested is injured and is undergoing treatment in a hospital. "We are working on how to get those (militants) into mainstream who are here and how to rehabilitate them in future".

"Even if a local militant raises his hands during an encounter, we will help him to return to his home and lead a normal life", he said.

A militant and a soldier were killed on the first day of the ongoing operation on Nov 14. "He could have died too", he said.

Munir Khan said that due to presence of more local militants in South Kashmir, youth are joining militant ranks in large number in the region than the North Kashmir where the number of local militants is minimal.

The police identified the two detained militants as Shams-ul-Viqar and Bilal Sheikh, who were brought before presspersons in Srinagar on Thursday.

The IGP, flanked by officers of Army and CRPF, said that Pakistan was using social media to recruit militants in Kashmir. However, the police chief hoped that the arrests of the three militants would likely have an impact on the militancy.

Khan also said that Pakistan was running "a relentless campaign on social media to lure Kashmiri youths towards militancy". "The 15-25 age group is immature and is unable to differentiate between good and evil". "I hope we will get the positive results", he said.

Responding to a question, IGP said that operation at Waltengu Qazigund is still in progress. "The government is very keen and has sought suggestions from us, which we are compiling", he said. Khan said police desires that the local militants including the footballer Majid Khan, who recently joined the militants should join back his family. Army will calibrate on application of force during the encounters and post encounter situations.