Amid continuous encounters, picture of youth holding weapons goes viral

Huzaif Riaz

SRINAGAR, (PTK): Despite continuous encounters, killing of militants and active attempts by police and other security agencies to stop youth from joining militant groups, the militant recruitment are on.

While officials said that militant recruitment in last couple of months have dropped, pic of one more youth announcing to join militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad is making rounds on social media.

Pic of a youth holding two AK-47’s in hand is making rounds on social media since Wednesday while it’s mentioned in the pic that the youth has joined militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad.

As per details mentioned on the pic, the latest one to join militant ranks is Tosif Ahmad But son of Mohammad Ashraf But resident of Marhama, Bijbehara. It’s believed that officials are confirming the authenticity of the photograph.

Kashmir valley has witnessed rise in militant recruitment since the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani in 2016. While security agencies have been continuously requesting the youth to give up arms and come to mainstream, the recruitment are on.

The militancy last year saw rise as most of top militants commanders and senior militants got killed during encounters with forces.

After the Suicide attack on CRPF convoy in Lethpora, Pulwama which left 40 CRPF personnel dead, security agencies feared the rise in militant recruitment mostly in Jaish-e-Mohammad group as the feared militancy will attract more youth towards it. Since the attack, more than ten Jaish militants have got killed including some commanders but despite this, two youth have posted pics announcing joining militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The one whose pics went viral few weeks ago was Sajad Ahmad whose car was used by suicide bomber to carry out the attack.

Army chief few days ago made appeal to mothers of militants to ask their sons to return back. He also announced to provide security to the youth who will give up arms. (PTK)

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