Youth planning to join militancy held
TNN Bureau. Updated: 12/13/2017 1:03:51 AM
Front Page
SRINAGAR: The State Police on Tuesday apprehended a young boy who on his way to join militancy in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
The boy, from Rainawari area in the city, was under surveillance as he was in contact with some Pakistani militants on social media sites, Ganderbal Fayaz Ahmed Lone, senior superintendent of police (SSP), said.
"The youth, Obaid Ashraf Khan, a resident of Rainawari downtown Srinagar, was in contact with a Pakistan-based militant though WhatsApp. The militant had persuaded the youth to join militant ranks," Lone told reporters.
However, he said the police was tracking the youth and on Tuesday hours before he was about to join the militants, the youth was apprehended in Ganderbal.
"We knew his movement and nabbed him early today at Qamaria Chowk in Ganderbal district of the state," Lone said.
The boy confessed of his intention to join the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an Al-Qaida affiliate in Kashmir headed by Zakir Musa, Lone said, adding that he was handed over to his parents after counselling.
Terming it a major success, he appealed parents to keep a watch on the activities of their children. "I appeal to the parents to keep a watch on the activities of their children because militants are using social media brainwash youth to join militant ranks," the SSP said.
He said the youth are given assignments by militants to snatch weapons and then join militant ranks. "We are trying to stop the youth from derailing from the path, but society at large and parents in particular should help us in this," he said.
Taking about Khan, he said, "We will help him rehabilitate. We have learnt that he is a good cricket player, we will help him excel in the sport."