Youth with family history of militancy; stone pelting; influence of online propaganda, picking up arms: Kashmir Police Chief

Says have arrested 150 OGWs this year so far; OGWs carry militant activity, then remain silent; we call them Hybrid militants; they are challenge for us; Revised Do’s & Don’ts issued to policemen, soldiers and CAPF men going on leave; flags off Bharat Darshan tour for youth

Srinagar, Mar 17 : Jammu and Kashmir police Thursday said only those who have family history of militancy, stone pelting background and those who come under the influence of online propaganda, pick up arms.

Police also said that families whose children go missing have great faith in police as they directly approach the police station for lodging missing reports and work jointly with police to bring back “misguided youth.”

Talking to reporters after flagging-off Bharat Darshan Tour of youth in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar said that police doesn’t organize tours and other recreational programs only to keep youth away from militancy but to explore the hidden talent of youth. “It is not like every youth joins militancy. Only those with family history like if somebody’s brother, uncle or some other family member has been killed. Also those with background of stone pelting, and those who come under the influence of online propaganda, pick up arms,” the Kashmir Police chief told reporters as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that parents of children who go missing, directly approach police, lodge missing report, and then help police to bring back their sons. “In many cases, youth join back their families. Those who don’t come back, we give them ample chances even in live encounters to surrender. Those who still don’t, get killed,” the IGP Kashmir said.

He said the OGW network is a big challenge for the police force. “OGWs don’t remain OGW forever and that’s why we call them Hybrid militants. OGWs carry out militant activities and then remain silent for many months. It becomes difficult for us to identity them even though we have arrested 150 OGWs this year so far,” the IGP said, adding that many have been identified as well.

About safety measures for policemen and other security forces going on leave in the wake of recent killing of a TA soldier in Budgam and a CRPF man in South Kashmir, he said revised Do’s and Don’ts have been issued to the policemen, CRPF personnel and even army men intending to visit homes on leave. “These SoPs are being reviewed from time to time,” he said—(KNO)