SRINAGAR – Indian security establishment has met with a new dilemma inoccupied Kashmir.

The trend of local boys picking up guns began after Hizbul MujahideenCommander Burhan Wani was martyred in an alleged encounter in 2016 atKokernag in south Kashmir. “This is a worrying trend, this is a matter ofconcern and efforts are on to stop it,” a senior police officer told TheIndian Express.

In a marathon meeting, held earlier this week, senior police and Armyofficers had briefed Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba on the rise in freshrecruitment in Valley. Police sources said most of these youth who joinedmilitancy ranks were from south Kashmir.

After Hizbul Mujahideen commander’s son Bilal Ahmad Shah, another youthFahad Mushtaq Waza from Srinagar’s Khanyar old city area has joinedfighters ranks.

A picture of Waza, carrying an AK-47 rifle, appeared on the socialnetworking sites on Tuesday, police said. According to the state police, atleast five youths have joined ranks in the Valley in the past 10 dayssending alarm bells within the security agencies, while local sources claimat least 25 youths have taken up arms since January.

Last year, around 126 local youths had joined militant ranks in Kashmir,many of whom were killed in different encounters with security forces. Wazais the second from the city to join a militant group this year. Policesources say, at least three youths from the city were already active.

Last week, the youngest son of Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, chairman of theTehreek-e-Hurriyat who replaced Syed Ali Shah Geelani, also joined militantranks. Junaid Ashraf Khan, a 28-year-old management graduate, joined theHizbul Mujahideen in south Kashmir. On March 17, a picture of Bilal AhmadShah (25), who had been missing since first week of March, appeared on thesocial media holding an AK-47 rifle. Shah’s father, a former HizbulMujahideen militant who was killed in an encounter in early 90’s, isbelieved to have also joined the militant outfit.

Earlier in January, a research scholar from Kupwara, Manan Wani’sphotograph arrpeared on the social media holding an under-barrel grenadelauncher, with a message claiming that he has joined the militancy.