Why are J&K cops being radicalised by Hizbul Mujahideen?

Srinagar, Sept 10: A dangerous precedent in Kashmir in which two cops have deserted the force to join the Hizbul Mujahideen has come to light. Bashir Ahmad and Mohammad Reyaz are said to have deserted the police force and joined the Hizbul Mujahideen a notorious terrorist organization in the Valley.

The incident is being reported close on the heels of another cop Naseer Ahmed disappearing with two Ak-47 rifles from the house J&K minister Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday. The Hizbul has in fact gone ahead and confirmed that these persons have joined the outfit.

These incidents have sent alarm bells in the Intelligence Bureau circles. This is not a good sign and these are incidents that have come to light and there may be many more looking to join or being part of the force and sharing information with the Hizbul and other outfits, an officer informed OneIndia.

Why are policemen joining militant outfits?

There are many factors that could be behind police personnel joining the ranks of the militants. In the past couple of months, several militant outfits have been pushing a hard core agenda to ensure that the radicalisation process is spread out far and wide. They have been targeting police personnel too apart from the educated youth.

The militant groups are seen driving a sense of insecurity among the police personnel too. In most of the cases, the militant groups pick the weaker lot and brain wash them. They are told that they are protecting an enemy land and should instead join the ranks of groups such as the Hizbul and make a difference. The brain washing and radicalisation process for a police man is similar to that of any other person.

The Hizbul also realizes that pulling out a person from the police force would send a very strong message. It basically gives the picture that the establishment is with them. There are several other benefits of roping in someone from the police force. He has information on the set up which the Hizbul could use while planning attacks.

You are fighting against your brothers:

The police personnel who have joined the Hizbul have been told that they were fighting agasint their own brothers. If one were to analyse the video message that was put out by the 21 year old Hizbul commander, Burhan Muzzafar Wani it becomes clear that he was attempting to target the police. While urging the youth to join him, he also said that that the Jammu and Kashmir police are our own but fighting on the Indian side.

He goes on to say that despite being our own, they (J&K police) have taken up arms against us and are supporting India. They have harassed our families, he says while also warning that they too could do the same. However, we shall not do that because they are our people.

The Hizbul has been constantly driving the point to the police in Kashmir that they must understand the importance of the freedom struggle. How long will you harass your own people, the Hizbul asks. Intelligence Bureau officials say that this is a worrisome sign and there needs to be an assessment done at the earliest.

Recently National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had visited Kashmir in the wake of this high radicalisation threat. It was reported that the Hizbul in its attempt to set up the Khilafat was roping in large number of youth through a social media campaign. The centre is planning a host of measures to counter this threat in a big way.

OneIndia News