New age militancy: How the Hizbul Mujahideen is using social media to lure Kashmir's youth

Videos and photos posted on social media and circulated on Whatsapp are increasingly playing a part in the recruitment strategy used by Burhan Wani, the regional commander of the Hizbul Mujaheedin, to lure Kashmiri youth.

The militant group is reportedly starting a fresh recruitment drive from August 21, according to a Firstpost report, which adds that the minimum eligibility is clearing Class 10, with Rs 35,000 being promised as salary.

Son of a government school principal in Tral, there is a Rs 10 lakh reward for any information on 21-year-old Burhan, who represents the new breed of youth from wealthy families joining the militants, according to an Indian Express report. With different Facebook accounts, websites and pages like Tiger Tral, HM Tral, Burhan Trali, Burhan is reportedly very active on digital platforms and keeps posting images and videos and also uses uses Whatsapp to spread messages.

This may also explain how hundreds of youth turned up for the funeral of Burhan's brother, who was recently killed by security agencies.

The videos being circulated depict young men in combat fatigues walking around and posing with guns or praying. Many don't even bother to mask their identity. However, police have not been very successful in tracking down the source of the videos and photos released by the militants. 

The widespread unemployment is one of the reasons why the militants are successful in selling the idea of militancy as a heroic and glamorous profession to youth in the area.