RECRUITMENT OF KASHMIRI YOUTH INTO TERRORISM
Born in 2001, Tanveer (name changed) was a brilliant kid known for his helping nature and was also a devout Muslim. He loved to read and also played cricket very well. For an upright individual to turn to terrorism, he first has to develop sympathy for the terrorist’s cause and hatred for the Indian establishment. In the early days of Kashmir conflict this was widely prevalent because of the considerable support for the movement in the valley and also due to the mismanagement of the government. But by the time Tanveer was fourteen, things had changed. After a considerable decline in terrorism along with positive changes in the government’s approach, tanzeems turned to their new found weapon – social media.
Every lapse of the government is highlighted and there is also an outburst of false propaganda against security forces and the establishment flooding multiple platforms. This gives these outfits a far wider reach and is able to influence the opinions of certain sections of society against India.
With a bit of observation over the years, one can clearly see the cyclical patterns. And one of the main cogs in this wheel is recruitment through social media. Contrary to popular belief, recruitment of an individual into a terrorist organisation is a very complex and prolonged process. And the time taken to radicalise someone largely depends on where he stands.
Kashmiri militants posting pictures and videos on social media platforms, deceivingly presenting themselves as “warriors” or “freedom fighters” target the weakest yet potent section of Kashmir – the youth. Due to the lack of quality educational institutes in the valley and dearth of employment opportunities, the youth at large are unable to find the right track and get derailed into drug abuse, crime or terrorism.
Terrorism still remains a fancy choice because it’s cloaked in the disguise of being virtuous to fight in the name of “religion” or “resistance”. This gives a false sense of moral ascendancy which is the biggest selling point for terrorism in Kashmir. It also gives young boys a false alternative to fame and to attract the opposite gender which they otherwise couldn’t, however it is a misplaced notion.
Tanveer in his early teens, having access to social media, fell prey to the narratives of these tanzeems. He began to despise the government and security forces alike and developed sympathy towards terrorists. Unable to afford quality education or get a decent job, desperation got the better of young Tanveer. All he needed was a nudge. That’s where the OGW network came into play. These over ground workers are handled by terrorists to carry out tasks and errands for the outfits. Recruiting new members is one of their primary tasks.
Recruiting follows a series of critical steps to evaluate the individual so as to delegate tasks accordingly. Tanveer was befriended by Imran, an OGW through a common acquaintance. Imran used to hang out with Tanveer to understand his strengths, weaknesses and his mindset. Imran often brought up conversations about the holy war and the persecution of Kashmiri Muslims and influenced him by targeting his weaknesses. He added Tanveer into social media groups that disseminated radical content. In a few months Tanveer was primed to join the outfit. But first he is put through a test of loyalty. Tanveer, along with another recruit was directed to stay at the house of Sajjad, another OGW, as a test to leave their houses. Then he was used to run errands for the tanzeem.
But fortunately, in just a few months Tanveer was apch by the Army as he was already being monitored by the auth. Had he been operating with the tanzeem, in a few months, he would have become an active terrorist and would have met the same fate as other slain terrorist. But even if a terrorist realises the hollowness of the “cause” or comes to his senses, it is virtually impossible to return to a normal life, since the tanzeems trap the youth in the vicious cycle by threatening to get them killed or harm their families.
In order to break the cycle of terrorism, recruitment needs to be addressed by a multipronged approach. A fight has to be waged on social media against the negative & harmful propaganda by the anti national elements. Also, a strong rehabilitation mechanism needs to be established across Kashmir. Government’s focussed effort in providing quality education will result in considerable shift away from terrorism. Developing infrastructure to connect Kashmir to the rest of the country would give a boost to exposure, entrepreneurship and economic progress. The role of security forces is also vital as their conduct and approach can be a strong influencer. Lastly, change begins at home. The values and principles that an individual is brought up determines his future. Tanveer spent a brief time at a rehabilitation centre and later did his graduation. Now, he is working for a pharmaceutical company in Indore and leads a happy life akin to any other citizen of India.
