The increase in the number of local youths allegedly joining various militant outfits in the wake of Burhan Wani’s death on July 8 is a worrying trend in the Valley.
While the terror attack in Uri has got everyone talking about India’s response to external threats, the surge in local youths allegedly joining various militant outfits in the wake of Burhan Wani’s death shows the internal threat is equally, if not more, worrying in the Valley.
If reports are to be believed, more than 60 local youths have joined different militant outfits in Kashmir, particularly south Kashmir, in the last 73 days of unrest following Hizb-ul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani’s death on July 8.
There has been a simultaneous increase in militant attacks on police posts, and security pickets of political leaders. In all such attacks, militants snatch or loot service rifles and ammunition, which are in turn provided to fresh terror recruits during training.
The Attack Pattern
In the last 15 days, militants have looted at least 10 assault rifles with ammunition in south Kashmir.
On Monday night, militants attacked two police posts in Langate area of Kupwara and Keller village in Shopian districts.
On Sunday, 12 to 15 armed militants attacked PDP leader Javaid Ahmad Sheikh’s house at Dyalgam in Anantnag and snatched four service rifles from the guards.
In a similar incident, militants barged into the residential compound of NC leader Abdul Rashid Khanday on September 8, and snatched five service rifles from the guards.
On July 9, 53 rifles were looted from the police station in Damhal Hanji Pora area in Kulgam district.
Meanwhile, in fresh clashes on Monday, 50 protesters were injured, and two school buildings were set on fire in Shopian and Anantnag districts.
Weapons For Fresh Recruits
Security agencies have confirmed that the looted weapons are being provided to fresh recruits of militant outfits, mainly Hizb-ul Mujahideen cadres in the Valley.
As the police have been occupied with enforcing law and order in the restive Kashmir, counter-insurgency operations have taken a hit, giving enough room to terror outfits to regroup and reorganise their structure in Kashmir.
Further, fresh recruits are also getting trained in arms from local militant commanders. Hizb-ul Mujahideen’s new video on social media networks in Kashmir shows its new commander Zakir Naikoo giving training in arms to new recruits in south Kashmir. Naikoo is shown training three young boys on how to fire from inside a room in case of an encounter.
