Several social media platforms used to convey messages
*Various Apps, other networks again come under scanner
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 18: An attempt to radicalize youth in Jammu and Kashmir through social media by the terror handlers has been detected and foiled by the police and Intelligence agencies by blocking the mobile numbers, origin of some of which has been traced to Pakistan, PoJK and even Dubai. In Jammu, radicalization attempts have mostly been made in five districts of the region including Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch.
Officials investigating the data after monitoring social media of vulnerable youth, the houses of some of whom were searched during four days long operation undertaken by police, Intelligence agencies and other wings, told the Excelsior that radicalization attempts have been made after monitoring social media accounts of the youth.
“The targeted youth had searched about religion, separatism and related topics on their social media accounts. The handlers gradually supplied them religious material but then tried to radicalize them with a view to lure them into terrorism,” the officials said, adding every attempt was made by the terror operative from across the border to brain-wash the youth.
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However, timely action by police has thwarted the radicalization bid of vulnerable youths, who were counseled after “provocative material” was detected in their mobile telephone numbers. The youths will be kept under strict surveillance, the officials said.
Asserting that such attempts have been made in past as well, they, however, said the Intelligence agencies, Cyber Cells, Special Operations Group (SOG) and other wings of police have developed mechanism to continuously monitor the international calls and messages using different Apps.
“This is proving useful in detecting radicalization attempts,” they said. At the same time, they admitted that the terror operatives sitting in Pakistan and PoJK or even Dubai are using some safe modes of communication i.e. the Apps which can’t be detected excepting physical checking of mobile telephone numbers.
Earlier also, there had been reports that the terrorists had been using secure communication network for interaction with their mentors sitting across the border. Some of the communication devices seized from slain and arrested terrorists have also pointed to this, they said.
The Pakistan army has already equipped the terrorists with Alpine Quest App in its offline version
“Use of App by the terrorists has been noticed some time back in Jammu and Kashmir. The App is originally an Australian navigation tool for trekkers and has been modified to include data on security forces, nakas etc,” the officials said.
The terrorists have also been found using highly encrypted ultra radio communication devices with servers in Pakistan. This technology enables secure communication between operatives.
The encryption makes it difficult for security forces to intercept or decode their communications in real time.
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