Kashmir terror groups, naxals recruited nearly 8,000 children to fight security forces: UN

New Delhi, June 29: The latest report by the United Nations has made some shocking revelations about the use of children by both terrorist groups in Kashmir and naxalites. It said that the Hizbul and Jaish-e-Mohamamd have used at least 8,000 children and used them as combatants in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The yearly report of the US Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict covered the calendar year of 2017. The report said that over 10,000 children have died in conflicts across the world. The UN report also went into then conflicts at Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Philippines and Afghanistan.

The UNSG Antonio Guterres' report covers a situation in India's Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and tensions that prevail in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Terming it as a grave violation, the report said that there were three incidents from Jammu and Kashmir where children were recruited and used by terrorist groups in conflicts with the Indian security forces. It said that two incidents were associated with the Hizbul while the third was with the Jaish.

In Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, the Naxals also used children, according to the constant reports they received. "Naxalites reportedly resorted to the use of a lottery system to conscript children in Jharkhand," the report also said.