Kashmir: Kids used in propaganda video

The video clip circulating via WhatsApp and Facebook begins with a Kashmiri child, estimated to be 6-8 years old, getting thrashed by two other children about the same age, although carrying guns. The armed children are playing Indian security forces and the unarmed child is the innocent Kashmiri in this make-believe.

The children appear running around carrying toy guns, talking about the need to take on the Indian forces as the sound track plays in Urdu. A caption “how a terrorist is born” emerges on the screen as the children depict the filmmaker’s version of the interaction between the Indian security forces and the Kashmiri youth.

The short film tries to justify terrorism as a righteous battle against injustice but fails at its attempt as it ends up leaving the viewer stunned with a deliberate communal propaganda. Even more shocking is the fact that “Kash Creations” the maker of this video uses children to make his or her point.

Shared with the author by a senior member of the administration in Kashmir who says, “It is very popular on social media platforms in the valley. Such videos glorify terrorism and the gun. These are circulated rampantly. This is how Burhan Wani became a hero, kids liked him in a uniform flaunting a big gun. We can fight the terrorists coming from across the border, but how do we fight our children?”

This and more propaganda videos on social media, the administrator says, have been the biggest tool for those disturbing peace in Kashmir. The protests across Kashmir this year have been led by stone-pelters, mostly children, some as young as 8-year-olds. It is not just the security personnel, even journalists and local people are targeted by stone-pelters. On October 7, as WION team travelled through Natipora in North Kashmir, in the middle of restive Sopore and Kupwara, a group of children ran towards our car and despite our appeal to them to stop, they smashed our car windows, it was a lucky escape for us.

Why are children as young as eight pelting stones? The senior administrator shares some pictures to illustrate. One of the pictures shows children holding toy guns, pretending to be militants, posing in front of a huge gathering in the background. This perhaps best displays the social sanction militancy has in parts of the valley. Militants, as Kashmiris call them, or terrorists as Indian government does are seen by some sections as martyrs.“We can’t even arrest such young kids as it would impact them for the rest of their lives. Very few are sent to juvenile homes,” the administrator adds.

At a police station in Central Srinagar, we meet three Kashmiri boys between 12 and 14 years of age. They were identified as stone-pelters, picked up and counselled by the J&K Police as trained counsellors and child rights activists that are in short supply. Why have they picked up stones? Waseem (name changed) says it is a group activity, “Sab karte hain, to maza aata hai, hum bhi karte hain” [Everyone does it so we also do it, its fun]] Akram [name changed] adds, “The CRPF beat up my brother so I pelt stones”. 

Author is WION’s Anchor & Bureau Chief