Kashmir youth joining militant ranks: Army Report

NEW DELHI — Youths and surrendered militants of Jammu & Kashmir are going back to raising arms in the absence of a rehabilitation policy and support from the State government, consequently resulting in the rise of militant outfits in the Valley.

According to an analysis report by military heads, the 2004 rehabilitation policy that included ₹1.5 lahks in fixed deposits and ₹2,000 as a monthly stipend, never reached those who gave up arms and weapons years ago. This forms the prime reason behind their shift back towards insurgency.

The report cited an example of Budgam’s Shakil Ahmed Wani who attacked the Pakherpora Shrine on June 16, 2014. Wani has failed to avail the rehabilitation policy despite having three postgraduate degrees from different universities.

The report also noted that it is not Pakistan this time indeed; instead, the Hizbul Mujahideen is raising an army of rebels to take advantage of their situation.

“Thus, there has been a radical change in the nature of insurgency, from a phenomenon supported by external forces to a primarily domestic-driven movement,” Hindustan Times cited extracts from the report.

However, the report also cited that a non-existent rehabilitation policy is not the only reason why the youth and former militants are opting for arms; the increased inhuman military treatment has aggravated their anger, forcing them to rebel against human rights violations.

“It has come to notice that a few youths had taken up arms against security forces in J&K because of inhuman treatment meted out by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces to them/close relatives/family members,” the report read.