'Valley youth are instigated through social media'

Pakistan-based terror outfits are using WhatsApp, Facebook and other social networking sites to engage youths in Kashmir to throw stones at the security forces whenever they undertake anti-terror operations in the Valley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

He described this as a “new trend” in the Valley in the past few months. “Youths from nearby villages gather and pelt stones at our security forces whenever they undertake any (anti-terror) operation,” he told the Lok Sabha after Trinamool Congress member Saugatha Roy raised concerns over the prevailing situation in the Valley during Zero Hour. The minister said the government believes that the Kashmiri youth, who indulge in stone-pelting at the security forces during anti-terror operations, were being misguided by “certain Pak-sponsored forces.”

“I appeal to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir that please do not fall into Pakistan’s trap. They have been making constant efforts to destabilise India,” he added. The minister appreciated the security forces for giving a “befitting” response to the terror activities in the Valley.

“Let me assure you that our security forces are dealing with terrorists exactly the way they should and will continue to do so. I want to say that we will definitely be successful,” he said.