Out of militants and arms, Hizb trying to lure Kashmir cops
Kashmir’s homegrown militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, is trying to lure police personnel to fill its dwindling ranks and armoury after a string of reverses since last year, officials told HT, quoting intelligence reports.
Out of three police deserters thisyear,atlasttwoareknownto have joined the Hizb with their official arms and ammunition, the officials added. The latest intelligence inputs were shared withsecurity forces operating in Kashmir in October.
Buttoppoliceofficials said the issue was not a “major concern yet”butadmittedthetrendcould bereflective of astrong pro-militant sentiments amongasection ofKashmiris.“Societyisboundto have an effect on an individual. Police havea great reputation in termsofperformingtheirprofessionaldutiesandfightingoffmilitancy and that will continue but they are not impervious to changeswithin society,” said SP Vaid, Jammu and Kashmir director general of police.
“As of now, this is not a major concernbutit is still a thing to be cautious about,” he said.
Kashmir has seen a groundswell of civilian anger since last JulywhenthenHizbulMujahideen commander Burhan Wani waskilledbysecurityforces.The killingsparkedmonthsofviolent streetprotests. Thegovernment responded with a muscular response,steppingupcounter-in- surgency operations that have killed at least 170 militants in the Valleythisyear.TheHMisoneof the most affected outfits, losing several top leaders and many cadre in encounters.
Officials said that killing of militants also means a loss of weaponsforoutfitsandhencethe ploytolurepolicepersonnelwith arms and ammunition. Intelligence officials said the HM was alsotryingtoprocurearmsfrom Pakistan and Afghanistan.
While some in the police force termed HM’s plans as wishful thinking, Ajai Sahni, executive directorofSouthAsiaTerrorism Portal and Institute for Conflict Management, said desertions anddefections fromsecurityforcesisneitheranewdevelopment nor is it limited to Kashmir.
“We have to understand that police is part of the population and it is that part which has laid faith in the state. There will alwaysbeasmallsectionofpolice officers with ambivalent impulses and loyalties,” he said.
“But the same can be said about other professionals like bureaucrats. In Kashmir, alot of bureaucrats after retiring take separatist positions.”
NEW DELHI:
2INJUREDINATTACK ONCRPFCONVOY
Two paramilitary troopers suffered minor injuries when militantsfiredat aconvoyoftheCentralReservePoliceForce(CRPF) Thursday morning in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, policesaid.TheLashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility.