Security agencies asked to keep vigil on former militants

As militant activities are on a surge in Kashmir, the security agencies have been asked to keep a tight vigil on the activities of former militants who in some cases are  being reinducted for terror activities.

Sources told Deccan Herald that intelligence agencies have received inputs that indigenous militant outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) is in the revival mode and recycling former militants.

“Keeping in view the inputs, the reports gathered from ground suggest that recycling is not to an alarming extent. In the last two years, some recycling cases have been reported by the police and other security agencies,” a source said.

“There is a dire need to keep tight vigil on ex-militants as it is easy to recycle them for terror activities. It has been found that they are often utilised by militants for logistic support,” the source added.

Sources said presently HM militants are under pressure from their leadership and hence, they have become active in the last six months.

Jammu and Kashmir director general of police Ashok Prasad maintains recycling cases are very low. However, another top police officer, wishing anonymity, said militants want to recruit more people in their ranks.

Pressure tactics

“Militants are pressurising the people to join their ranks, especially former militants. Due to strict vigil on Line of Control, it is very difficult for militants to infiltrate from Pakistan.

Under the circumstances, we have to keep a close eye on the activities of former militants,” he said.

The officer disclosed that the security forces on ground have to keep an account of the released militants particularly those who have been released during the past two years.

“At one point these militants surrender, rejoin normal life, and then rejoin the insurgency movement through a new organisation. Security agencies on ground have been asked to monitor their activities and the movement of people who visit jails to meet detainees,” he added.

Sources said another worry for security establishment was the tendency of the stone-pelters, who participated in the protests in 2008 and 2010, joining the militant ranks.

New recruits

“Militant groups especially HM have made arrangements to train new recruits in the handling of arms and ammunition locally. There is no input suggesting that these new recruits are ex-filtrating across the border for training. The new recruits who have come under our radar are mostly teenagers who were earlier part of the stone-pelting mobs in 2010,” the source said.

Sources said security agencies will also re-verify the credentials of youth involved in stone-pelting.

There were apprehensions that stone-pelters against whom cases of serious nature are registered in police stations may have joined the militant ranks.

In the past also, some die-hard stone-pelters have joined the militant ranks, the sources said.