Till April 2018, 32 young Kashmiri men have reportedly joined terror outfits.
A discussion on terrorist organisations making efforts to radicalise Kashmiris within the Forces and the need for a strategy to take this on was part of the brainstorming session held at the recent Army Commander's conference in Delhi.
In wake of the recent case of Idrees Mir, a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for troops hailing from Kashmir are being planned, Army sources said.
Mir, a Ghatak Commando posted in Bihar, went missing; terror group Hizbul Mujahideen later claimed that the Shopian-local had joined their outfit. Last year, another Army jawan was said to have joined a terror organisation.
"Such cases are an aberration," said a source, "But recent developments point to a growing threat of terrorists targeting them, and it's a serious concern."
Over 6,700 Kashmiri Muslims serve in the Army, mostly in the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI). Sources said that instructions have been issued to these soldiers to live incognito and avoid the limelight when they visit their homes.
"They are told not take calls from unknown numbers," said an Army source. "There is a helpline number they can contact in case of any suspicion."
Last year, there were indications that militant groups are luring young men as nine men from the state police abruptly went missing. It was later confirmed that they had joined terrorist outfits.
Sources in the Central Reserve Police Force have also reported instances of locals raising apprehensions, who were then transferred out.
Radicalisation of Kashmiri youth and efforts to bring them back into the mainstream was a key area of discussion during the conference.
Till April 2018, 32 young Kashmiri men have reportedly joined terror outfits.
In 2017, the number was 127 — a whopping increase from 2013, when the tally was just 13.
Case In Point
Idrees Mir, a Ghatak Commando posted in Bihar, went missing in April; terror group Hizbul Mujahideen later announced that he had joined them. Last year, 9 men from the state police joined terrorist outfits.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "ARMY")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}