Social Media Apps used for interaction to maintain secrecy
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 13: Terrorists operating from Pakistan and PoJK and hailing from some parts of the Jammu region have been found in touch with few youths trying to radicalize them as well as their family members and relatives using some social media Apps during series of raids conducted by police, SOG and intelligence agencies across the Jammu region in the past few days.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
“The Pakistan and PoJK based terrorists have been trying to radicalize youth in some parts of the region including erstwhile Doda district and Pir Panjal range but haven’t succeeded because of the pressure maintained by police and other security agencies,” officials told the Excelsior.
They said the series of searches conducted by police and intelligence agencies during past few days showed that the terrorists did contact their family members, relatives and some local youth, though not quite often but rarely, using social media Apps with a view to get first-hand of the situation and mobile numbers of youth who could be radicalized and ultimately recruited into the terrorism.
The terrorists based in Pakistan and PoJK hailing from Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch districts among other areas have been activated by Pakistan army and ISI and asked to get in touch with local youth using social media, radicalize them and lure then into terrorism, the officials said.
“A number of people who were in touch with the terrorists sitting across have been detained for questioning during multiple raids. However, no formal arrests have been made so far. Some of the detained persons were released after questioning,” they said.
Another target of police during the raids was to identify and nab the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who may have been assisting the terrorists hiding in upper reaches of some districts in providing ration and other necessary items to them. Some persons with doubtful credentials have been picked up and are being quizzed by police.
Searches in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Rajouri districts continued for three days while in other places the raids were completed in a day or two. Jails in almost all the districts were also searched by police and CID (Counter Intelligence) sleuths amid reports that the terrorists lodged in the prisons may be trying to radicalize the inmates.
As per the sources, a series of guidelines are being implemented to keep terrorists separately from other inmates to avoid their contacts and prevent any kind of radicalization attempts inside the prisons.
“The visitors and items being supplied to the terrorists inside the jails are being strictly frisked,” they said.
Asserting that the raids were successful and fulfilled the desired purpose of security agencies, sources said the detentions and seizure made during the searches will help cops in busting some networks of the Over Ground Workers.
During past about two decades or more, some youths from different parts of the region mainly Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts among others exfiltrated to Pakistan and PoJK and joined the terrorist ranks there. While some of them got married and settled there working in shops and business establishments, others remained active as terrorists and are being used by Pakistan army and ISI for fanning trouble in the Jammu region as they are well-versed with hideouts, topography of the area etc.
Property of these terrorists has already been attached in different districts.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
