New Hizbul Mujahideen video shows militants brandishing guns snatched from policemen in Kashmir Valley

Delhi: A new terror video of Hizbul Mujahideen has surfaced on social media in which 12 militants can be seen brandishing weapons, including INSAS rifles apparently snatched from police forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the four-and-a-half minute video, a group of armed militants are seen greeting and hugging each other.

They are also seen laughing in an attempt to lure youth to join militancy.

Militant groups supposedly use these weapons to boost their own cadre.

Hizbul commander Zakir Rashid Bhat, who was close to slain militant commander Burhan Wani, in another recent video message had said that several youth had snatched weapons from security forces and joined the Hizb ranks.

"Anyone who wants to join us, he should snatch a weapon and join us. We welcome them all wholeheartedly," Zakir, a former engineering student of Chandigarh, had said in the video, as per PTI.

Spurt in the incidents of gun-snatching by militants in Kashmir has triggered concern in the security establishment, prompting the Army to say on Wednesday that it is working with police to tackle the new strategy of the ultras.

Over the last three months, 67 weapons, including AK-47, INSAS, Carbine, SLR, .303 rifles, have been looted and snatched from police personnel in 12 such incidents.

"It is a new strategy and plan of the militants with twin objective of making new recruits prove their loyalty and commitment towards gun culture and also to create public perception about demoralisation in the police forces," a senior police officer said.

The officer, however, dismissed the theory that the snatching is done to armm militants, arguing that the weapons like INSAS, Carbines, SLR rifles are not of much use to the militants unlike the AK rifles.

"Rifle snatching incidents witnessed recently in the valley, particularly in south Kashmir, is a cause of concern, said Srinagar-based Army Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua.

"There are some small pickets of the police where they are not able to take care of the situation if the militants come in. It is being addressed jointly with the police, he added.

Among the steps that are being taken by the forces is to increase the number of men at pickets, including those guarding minority community members in south Kashmir.

Gun snatching incidents in Kashmir Valley 

The snatching incidents started soon after Burhan's killing, when people attacked police station Damhal Hanjipora in South Kashmir's Kulgam district on July 11 and potential militants looted 39 rifles including 21 INSAS rifles, 12 SLRs, One LMG and 2 AK rifles.

On October 16 night, militants decamped with five rifles from policemen guarding a broadcast tower in Davlach village in Dooru-Shahabad area of this South Kashmir district.

The militants managed their entry into a room at Lower Power Transmitter Station of public service broadcaster Doordarshan in Davlash village where weapons were kept and escaped with the weapons, including 3 SLRs, one INSAS and a Carbine without any resistance.

Earlier on October 8, militants snatched two service rifles from a minority police post in Tumlihal-Lassipora in Pulwama district.

A day prior to that, weapons were snatch from policemen guarding a minority picket in Jamnagri village of Shopian. In the fire fight, one cop was killed, two others including a Kashmiri Pandit were injured.

On October 3, militants ran away with five automatic rifles from a minority post in Kulgam district.

On September 28, they decamped with service rifle of guards of former NC MLA in Shopian.

Prior to that, militants, on the night of September 18, decamped with four service rifles from security guards of ruling People's Democratic Party district president, Advocate Javed Sheikh.

Four rifles were also snatched from policemen guarding the house of a former National Conference leader in Begam village in Pombia area of Kulgam district on the evening of September 8.

On September 5, a Communist leader's house in Kulgam was attacked and a rifle snatched from the police personnel on duty.

On August 31, militants sneaked into protesters who attacked PDP leader and Rajya Sabha member Nazir Ahmad Laway's house in Chawalgam village of Kulgam district and ran away with four rifles.

(With Agency inputs)