Security agencies have told home secretary Rajiv Gauba that Islamic State has no significance in the state although IS flags are waved occasionally.
New Delhi: Security agencies in Jammu & Kashmir have told the central government that social media is the main source used for “radicalisation” of youth and that the terror outfit, Islamic State, does not have much significance in the troubled state.
The information was shared with union home secretary Rajiv Gauba who began a two-day visit to the state Monday. A delegation led by the home secretary met officers from the Army, CRPF, BSF and Jammu and Kashmir Police and reviewed the security situation in the state.
“The delegation was told that social media has been used to radicalise youth. However, the Islamic State has no significance in Kashmir although IS flags were waved occasionally,” a source privy to the meeting told ThePrint. “A close watch is being kept on such activities.”
This meeting comes after the home ministry expressed concern over rising cases of youth joining militancy in the Valley.
Gauba is believed to have asked the security agencies to prepare for the summer, which is the tourist season and the time for the Amarnath Yatra. Seven Amarnath Yatris were killed last year in a terror attack.
The Valley has seen an increase in terror-related violence since the killing of young Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016. This has hurt the tourism sector, a key component of the state’s economy.
The delegation led by Gauba also sought updates on counter-insurgency operations and infiltration on the border, mainly in north Kashmir. On 20 March, five security personnel, including three army men and two members of the special operation group of J&K police were killed in an encounter in Kupwara’s Halmatpora. Five militants, all foreigners were, also killed in the incident.
While enquiring about the challenges on the international border and Line of Control (LoC), the home secretary directed security agencies to “fix the loopholes”, the sources said. He was also apprised of the infrastructure at the border.
The delegation will also take stock of implementation of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) in the state.
Gauba has asked top administrative officials to stick to the deadline of development projects. The high-level meeting took note of the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrants as well as victims of the border shelling.