Terrorists have released a number of videos showing young boys dressed in battle fatigues patrolling with heavy weapons, on the social media in a bid to romanticise and attract the youth for jihadi activities.
Terrorists, to outwit the security forces and garner public support, are unleashing a new psychological warfare through jihadi videos. "It is a psychological warfare they are trying to indulge in. So one of the moves like we did is to try and block the applications. Let us see how it works," said SJM Gillani, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone.
Terrorists have released a number of videos showing young boys dressed in battle fatigues patrolling with heavy weapons, on the social media in a bid to romanticise and attract the youth for jihadi activities.
Police have blocked social media and several mobile applications to prevent the terrorists from uploading the videos. Despite that the latter have been able to upload the videos and even circulate them on the WhatsApp.
"We have taken this measure (blocking the social media and mobile apps) for a month. The services for certain applications have been blocked. We will assess the effects after a month and take a decision," said Gillani.
Police said there are more than 200 terrorists operating in the valley, of which nearly half are foreign elements, mostly from Pakistan.
"As of now there are 200 active terrorists which is roughly the same number of last year. Of which 110 are locals. Ninety five of them are new recruits who joined the militant ranks last year. We have seen criminalising (of militancy) in a way that they attack civilians. You saw couple of days in Mir Bazaar area where police man were attacked when they were clearing traffic. Or the attack on the bank van in which two civilians and five cops lost their lives. It is that trend", said Gillani.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, said the overall law and order and militancy in central and north Kashmir is under control. "We have certain issues in certain parts of south Kashmir", he said.
Gillani however noted that this year the number of terrorist killed so far is similar to last year and much more than the year before. "We are carrying out anti insurgency operation on day to day basis. There is nothing like fear of dealing with crowd is stopping us from taking action on anti militancy front. We have SOPS in place and what precautions are to be taken will be taken. We have lost nearly 40 weapons and some of them have been recovered", he said.
IGP noted that they have identified the terrorists who have carried out the bank robberies in south Kashmir. "Two banks were looted in one day In Pulwama. Last year four cases were registered and during investigation it was found that Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujhadeen activists of that area are involved. This year too Hizbul and Lashkar involvement is visible. CCTV footage and eyewitness have identified them. One foreign terrorist Abul Ali was killed in encounter in Budgam," he said
Gillani said there have been 28 incidents of students indulging in lawlessness where cases have been registered. "We are trying to counsel students and parents so that they do not indulge in such activities. During investigation in Handwara case (student protests) we found some students were paid and instigated by outside elements. We have arrested some people in Handwara", he said.
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