Srinagar, Oct 6: Security agencies are in a tizzy after over a dozen of youth from South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts joined militancy in recent days. A youth has also joined militant ranks in Kupwara.
The photographs of many youth holding assault rifles have gone viral from past couple of days.
Official sources said that during the current year a number of youth mostly educated have joined militancy. Some of them though have been neutralized but yet qualified youth are joining militant ranks in Kashmir particularly in Southern parts known for volatility.
Official records show that during the months of April and Many of the ongoing year, over 140 youth joined militant outfits including Hizbul Mujhadeen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad and even some joined Albadar outfit. “These youth leave homes and a couple of days post their photographs holding assault rifles on social media,” said an official who admitted that joining of youth to militant ranks is worrisome and need to be effectively tackled.
“I received information about over a dozen youth from past 24 hours who have joined militancy. It implies the killing of militants has not stopped these youth to desist from joining militancy,” the official said.
As per official sources those who are missing or have joined militant ranks include Rayees Ahmed Khan of Wahil Shopian, Adil Bashir Sheikh of Zainpora Shopian, Muhammad Rafiq Bhat of Achhan Pulwama, Yawar Mushtaq of Bundhpahu Shopian and Ajaz Ahmed of Dradsun Kupwara.
Meanwhile, reports about missing youth are pouring in from different parts of South Kashmir villages including Rohmu, Lelhar and Rajpora Pulwama.
An official while confirming the reports about the missing youth said that they are in constant touch with their families. He said they are hopeful these youth will shun militancy and return to their families.
The joining of youth into militancy has sent security agencies into a tizzy as they believe that militancy is a threat to peace and security of the country. “It is really a worrisome development,” said an police official wishing not be named.
Meanwhile, a number of videos on social media have gone viral in which family members of these youth are appealing them to return their houses.
