SRINAGAR: Police in Kashmir on Saturday said it busted superstructure of militants' overground sympathizers and recruiters in North Kashmir. It said militants were trying to recruit local boys by influencing them with malicious propaganda.
A police spokesman said police arrested a militant Irshad Ahmad Shah of Seelu, Sopore in Baramulla. "He was a murder accused and with his arrest, police has been able to bust a huge network who were spearheading militant activities and recruitment of local boys in Baramulla and Sopore in North Kashmir."
He said arrested militant was active with Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit for over two years. He along with two other absconders are involved in the killing of one civilian.
"With his arrest, police, Army and CRPF in Sopore has been able to lay hands on network of overground activists of Hizb, who were aiding and abetting militancy, besides luring young boys towards militancy.
The spokesman said in a series of raids conducted in Sopore and adjoining areas in North Kashmir, security forces have arrested nine persons, who were influencing young and innocent boys to join militancy.
The police spokesman said a militant Azhar Khan of border district of Kupwara, who was killed along with another associate in an encounter on February 4 was a radical ideologue of Hizb.
He said both the slain militants were active in Sopore and Baramulla and with the help of over ground superstructure sympathisers, which has been busted now, were luring young boys from Sopore and Baramulla for militancy.
The spokesman said during questioning of arrested people and further investigations, some boys who were being recruited for militant activities were counselled by security forces and handed over to their families thus saving their lives.
DIG North Kashmir Nitish Kumar appealed the parents to keep watch on their children and not to let them fall into the trap militant propaganda.