Bashir Ahmad
Kashmir which is known for Sufism is now turning into radicalization which has become a concern for security agencies.
Radicalisation is a serious challenge faced by the global community in the current era. The biggest factor, however, driving this ideological rat race is the political weaponisation of religion, which undoubtedly, is a “grave threat” that more than 200 countries are battling today. Not a single day passes that one hears or reads about attacks or acts in different parts of the world.
While economic and military giants like US, Russia, China and in European Union are researching, analyzing and peer-reviewing the dire consequences of indoctrination emanating from Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, the severity of fanaticism India is facing in Kashmir, since 1989, goes unnoticed most of the times.
The deep-rooted penetration of indoctrination in Kashmir, mainly done on social media, is taking place in a systematic manner where the people, entrusted with zeroing in on the gullible youngsters are breaking good ground in cognitive and behavioral radicalisation.
“The biggest factor driving a youngster towards extremism in political weaponisation of religion, which if completely perused and understood, is an outcome of dirty nexus between mainstream and separatist leaders,” sources said.
Security agencies have found that Mohammad Hanif is a handler who is responsible for recruitment and providing logistic al support to the Pakistan sponsored proxies in the valley.
A patriarch of a happy family Hanif worked towards spoiling the future of innocent children while leaving no stone unturned in imparting quality education among his children. He ensured quality life and a safe future for his children while perpetrated death and devastation for innocent and gullible youths of his neighbourhood. A cursory look into Hanif’s own life does not reveal any higher qualification but he is well off to afford his family all the luxuries of the modern times.
What drew this rogue to work for militant outfits and devastate innocents is not only rooted in money but driven by ideological factor also. While they don’t involve their family members in the path of violence but they unhesitatingly and in a deplorable display of apathy and callous attitude, ruin lives of gullible youth by weaning them away from their worldly and family responsibilities,” they said.
Hanif and Shoaib were paid handsomely after ideologically seducing Abid in militant activities by unleashing their propaganda of misinformation warfare. Abid was made to watch sensitive videos and read other incriminating material to get into the groove of extremist mindset.
Abid surrendered to police in 2020 leading to the revelation of what has been mentioned above.
Another recruiter is a former militant, Abdul Majeed. A financially sound person owning a sprawling orchard, Majeed also worked as a contractor. Understanding the significance of education to excel in modern times, all of Majeed’s children are receiving quality education while choosing children of vulnerable families for his insidious designs.
Joining the militant outfit at the behest of Majeed was the biggest blunder committed by Imtiyaz Ahmad who is currently languishing in jail. Imtiyaz was the sole bread earner of his family upon whom his old parents had entrusted upon to support them in difficult times. However falling into the death trap of Abdul Majeed, he now awaits to get old himself behind the bars and live in agony while leaving his old parents alone to die in silence. Such is the poor state of his parents that neither the neighbours nor the relatives find time to check upon their whereabouts and condition leaving them to live in complete isolation.
