Pakistan uses social media platforms to instigating Kashmiri youth: JKP

Jammu Tawi: Even as extra forces were deployed on Wednesday in sensitive areas of Kashmir Valley, the J&K police have said that Pakistan is using social media platforms like WhatsApp to organise youth to pelt stones at security forces.

The J&K police have alleged that multiple WhatsApp groups with Pakistani administrators have been put in place to organise stone pelters, Police cited a recent case registered in Srinagar.

A police officer said that these groups allegedly provided the exact location and time of an encounter that is underway and ask youngsters to reach there.

“As soon as an encounter begins, precise information about location is sent over by ground workers of Pakistan-based terror groups asking youngsters to gather at the site,” the officer was quoted as saying by the media house.

“It's a fact that social media is being misused by enemies of the country,” DGP, J&K, SP Vaid told CNN-News18.

Yesterday, three youth were killed and 18 others were injured as security forces had clashed with stone- pelters trying to disrupt an anti-militancy operation which had ended with the killing of a militant in Budgam district of Kashmir.

The killing of the civilians was described as “highly painful” by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who had urged restraint from all sides while Opposition National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah had said the incident reflected the “alarming situation” in the Valley.

The security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in Durbugh area of Chadoora village following information about the presence of militants in the area.

As per a police official, the search operation had turned into a gunbattle after the hiding militant had fired at the security forces, PTI had reported.

As the gun battle was underway, scores of people had gathered at the site and had resorted to stone-pelting, leading to clashes with the security forces.

The day-long clashes had left three civilians – all young men in their 20s – dead while 18 others were injured.

Meanwhile, the encounter had continued and the lone militant was gunned down.

The trend of civilians assembling near the encounter sites and engaging security forces in clashes emerged last year.

It has continued even after Army Chief Bipin Rawat warned the youth against interfering in anti-militancy operations and the state administration imposing Section 144 within three kilometre radius of the encounter site.

(With Agency inputs)