Conflict

Intelligence to prevent appearance of militants at funerals: Home Ministry

Srinagar: The regular appearance of militants at funerals of fellow militants killed by the Indian Armed Forces’ operations has become a matter of concern for the Government of India (GoI).

The Home Ministry told the Parliament on Wednesday that “Centre is seized of the matter.”

Minister of State (MoS) for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in a reply to parliamentarian Rajkumar Dhoot, said, “As per the report of state government, a few instances of militants making brief appearance in large gathering of funeral of militants (killed by Indian Armed Forces) have been observed.

Earlier in July, the funeral of the slain Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Bashir Lashkari was attended by several fellow militants, who fired several shots in the air.

In these instances, the militants after making brief appearances disappear, taking advantage of a large gathering. In order to prevent such activities of militants, numerous steps have been taken including strengthening of operational grid with enhanced human intelligence and use of technical intelligence grid. Further, the intensity of ‘counter insurgency’ operations has been increased resulting in ‘neutralising’ of several militants,” a report in India Today said.

In Kashmir, militants openly daring the security forces by giving gun salutes to slain colleagues is a new normal, a reminiscent of the 1990’s, where militants appeared in a similar fashion during funeral. Sources in the intelligence agencies, according to the reports, however, say the appearances are aimed to recruit more “misguided” youth into a mould.

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