Ganderbal youth, on way to join militancy, arrested: Police

GANDERBAL — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said a teenage boy from Shallabugh area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, who was about to join militancy, was arrested.

A police official said that a teenage boy from Shallabugh, who was active on social media, by misusing Virtual Private Network (VPN) has been found in touch with Pakistan-based handlers.

He further said his Facebook account was kept under surveillance by District Police Ganderbal, who gathered information about his activities and the motivation done by a handler to join militancy.

A team of Police Component Ganderbal, Army’s 5RR and CRPF 115 Bn after registration of FIR under number 04/2020 under section 13 ULAP Act, 188 LPC at Police Station Kheerbhawani, arrested the accused person from Shallabugh area and put him under sustained interrogation, he said.

He added that it was found that the accused is highly radicalized and had uploaded objectionable content on Facebook, which included propagation of ISIS ideology.

“He had also joined many groups on WhatsApp that are spreading rumours, radicalizing the youth and propagating hatred against the Indian State. All the social media sites were accessed by the accused through 15 different VPNs,” he said.

Police officials further stated that he was ready to join militancy as the Pakistani handler had established his contacts with militant groups in Shopian. “Timely intervention of Police has saved the youth from joining militancy,” he added.

The accused is an orphan child, economically very poor and such vulnerable children are identified by Pakistan-based handlers to motivate them to join militancy, which is a matter of serious concern, he added.

Meanwhile, police have started a drive across Kashmir against the persons who are misusing the VPNs for their involvement in ‘nefarious and unlawful activities’.

The police official also appealed to people not to use VPNs for accessing social sites. “Legal action shall be taken against all those who violate the government directions and the provisions of law,” the police official said.