*SRINAGAR, APR 27 – Youth *recruitment continue in valley despiteencounters, appeals by security officials and parents to shun militancy.
A picture of youth is making rounds on social media from last couple ofhours. In the picture, Shakeel Ahmad Dar is seen holding an AK-47 rifle inleft hand, Quran in right hand and wearing a rig over his chest. Thepicture is believed to be released by outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen announcingthat one more local has joined them.
The details mentioned on the picture further say that Shakeel is a residentof Turkoo area of Shopian district in south Kashmir and has joined theranks of fighters on April 21, 2019.
Fighters have code named the youth as Abu Wasif. Security forces areverifying the facts regarding this matter. Earlier this day, an engineeringstudent of Anantnag also posed with an AK-47.
The trend of sharing pictures on social media after joining ranks began tobecome common in Kashmir after Burhan Wani ( slain top Hizb commander )shared some of his pictures on social media in year 2014-15. More than 500youth have been killed in gunfights with security forces during last fewyears. Despite this, militant recruitment is seeing no sign of declination.
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Kashmir valley has witnessed rise in militant recruitment since the killingof popular militant commander Burhan Wani in 2016. While security agencieshave been continuously requesting the youth to give up arms and come tomainstream, the recruitment are on.
On Wednesday, top police and army officials claimed that recruitment oflocal boys has gone down in past some time however has not completelystopped. Attempts are being continuously made by security forces to stoplocal youth from joining militancy.
Army chief few months ago made an appeal to parents of militants where heasked them to request sons to join mainstream. He also announced to providesecurity to the ones who will shun militancy. (PTK)