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As Security Tightens, Terrorists use Cyberspace to Recruit in J&K: Report

Srinagar
January 2021

Pakistan's Intelligence Agency and terror groups are now carrying out recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir using applications in cyber and mobile space as direct physical interactions have become difficult due to the Security Forces' hawk eyed vigil, officials said on Sunday.

Fake videos of alleged atrocities committed by the Security forces and building a false narrative are now often used by the ISI handlers from Pakistan to whip up emotions among the new recruits, they said, citing intelligence reports and technical surveillance.

Earlier, terrorist sympathizers used to establish physical contact with the prospective recruits to bring them into a terror group's rank and files. However, after Security agencies cracked down on such sympathizers, they changed their modus operandi.

In 2020, over two dozen terror modules were busted by Security agencies leading to the arrest of over 40 such sympathizers.

Two surrendered terrorists, Tawar Waghey and Amir Ahmed Mir, who laid down their arms before 34 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army late last month, had given an insight into their joining of terror modules that showed that cyber recruitment was being carried out on a large scale.

Both the terrorists had come in contact with a Pakistan based handler via Facebook who indoctrinated them before handing them over to a recruiter code named Khalid and Mohammed Abbas Sheikh.

The two terrorists were provided training online using various links available on public platforms like YouTube and both of them had met their local contact only once in Shopian in South Kashmir, the officials said.