Srinagar so far was relatively immune to influence of militants.
Embers of militancy has now reached Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar after an 18-year-old youth joined militant ranks, setting alarm bells ringing among the political and security establishment in the valley.
Faid Mushtaq Waza had gone missing soon after leaving his home at Khanyar in sensitive old city on Friday afternoon last week. However on Wednesday, pictures of 18 year old Faid brandishing AK 47 riffle went viral after it was released on social networking sites. Wearing skull cap, Faid announced his joining the Lashkar-e-Tioba. Code named Abu Usama, Faid was armed to teeth with AK 47 fitted with the under barrel grenade launcher.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir Range, Vidhi Kumar Birdhi, told DNA that there were two FIRs registered against him for rioting and stone pelting. “We are investigating. There were two FIRs of pelting and rioting against him earlier. We are at it. Whenever there is any breakthrough, we will share with you”, he said. Fearing for his life, mother of Faid issued an appeal to the militants to release her son so that he reunites with his family.
“They (militants) are my brothers and sons. I appeal them to send him back. He never lied to me. It is the first lie that he uttered when he told me that he is going to attend Jamat (religious congregation) and will return on Monday. Yesterday we came to know (that he has joined militant ranks)”, said Maimoona, mother of Faid.
Maimoona said since Faid has left, the family is in a state of shock. “For God’s sake please come back. Despite being you mother, I am hand-foldedly requesting you to return. Your grandparents will die. They are not well. Your father is not well. So please come back”, she said.
Faid is the second youth to have joined militancy in the last four days in Srinagar. On Saturday, the 27 year old son of newly elected chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai joined Hizbul Mujhadeen outfit in Kashmir. Junaid Ashraf Sehrai, an MBA pass-out, had left for Friday prayers but did not return home in upmarket Bagaat area of Srinagar city. On Saturday Junaid’s picture with AK 47 surfaced on the social media setting the speculations about his disappearance to rest.
Srinagar has been relatively peaceful with only few youth taking up arms. These youth, though, residents of Srinagar, have been operating in the countryside. On March 12, three militants were killed by the security forces in Hakoora village of Anantnag district. One of the slain was later identified as Mohommad Eisa Fazili, a B.Tech drop out from Soura in Srinagar. Official figures reveal that more than 126 Kashmiri youths joined militant ranks in the Valley in 2017, which is the highest in last seven years. Nearly 280 youths have joined militancy in the last three years. They include 66 in 2015, 88 in 2016 and 126 in 2017.
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