As security tightens, terrorists use Cyberspace to recruit in J&K: Report

Pakistans intelligence agency and terror groups are now carrying out recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir using applications in cyber and mobile space as direct physical interactions have become difficult due to the security forces hawkeyed vigil officials said on SundayFake videos of alleged atrocities committed by the security forces and building a false narrative are now often used by the ISI handlers from Pakistan to whip up emotions among the new recruits they said citing intelligence reports and technical surveillanceEarlier terrorist sympathisers used to establish physical contact with the prospective recruits to bring them into a terror groups rank and files However after security agencies cracked down on such sympathisers they changed their modus operandiIn 2020 over two dozen terror modules were busted by security agencies leading to the arrest of over 40 such sympathisersTwo surrendered terrorists Tawar Waghey and Amir Ahmed Mir who laid down their arms before 34 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army late last month had given an insight into their joining of terror modules that showed that cyber recruitment was being carried out on a large scaleBoth the terrorists had come in contact with a Pakistanbased handler via Facebook who indoctrinated them before handing them over to a recruiter codenamed Khalid and Mohammed Abbas SheikhThe two terrorists were provided training online using various links available on public platforms like YouTube and both of them had met their local contact only once in Shopian in south Kashmir the officials saidThis according to the officials is done to avoid exposure of sleeper cells created by Pakistans ISI within the valley Security agencies have busted several modules following intelligence inputs provided by local residentsThe two terrorists after being recruited into The Resistance Front TRF which is believed to be a shadow outfit of banned terror group LashkareTaiba were receiving orders as well as religious teachings from Pakistanbased Burhan HamzaThe officials said there were around 40 such cases where the recruitment was done and indoctrination carried out through social media especially in south Kashmir The new recruits were awaiting orders from across the borderTerror groups are definitely facing a shortage of arms and that is one of the reasons why Pakistanbased terror outfits are more focused on sending more arms and less manpower the officials saidThey gave an example of last months encounter on the outskirts of Jammu city where a valleybound group of four terrorists was carrying 11 assault rifles and a huge quantity of ammunitionThe death of a 22yearold local terrorist Amir Siraj in north Kashmir late last month was yet another case of cyber recruitment the officials saidA final year graduation student from Khawaja Gilgat in Sopore Siraj was staying with his maternal uncle in Adipora in north Kashmir and would spend most of his afternoons playing football in the local groundHe went missing on the afternoon of June 24 2020 Later it was found that he had been recruited by terror group JaisheMohammed from across the border via social media the officials saidThe local terrorist had expressed his desire to surrender but was threatened by his accomplice that he and his family would be killed if he were to act on it they saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever