Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 21

Pakistan has set up a number of cyber warfare centres to fuel violence, militancy and stone-throwing in the Valley with the long-time objective of defaming India over Kashmir across the world.Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs told The Tribune that Pakistan after declaring 2017 as the “Year of Kashmir” had intensified its cyber warfare against India over the Valley. It had been producing videos like “Sangbaz” (stone-thrower) with fiery songs and “martyrdom appeals” to target the Indian security forces and wreck its political and democratic system. Pakistan had undertaken a major exercise to make youth, some of them hired cyber warriors, to go in for anti-India propaganda.A highly placed source in the MHA said that after seeing the crowds in Kashmir fight the police and CRPF in the wake of the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani, the ISI and Pakistan army with the clear nod of the civilian government had started such cyber warfare centres. The propaganda material gets downloaded in the social media sites of the individuals hired for the purpose, and that is used by them instantly or at a convenient time.The restrictions on the Internet in Kashmir have not much affected the cyber warriors, who have the patronage of political groups, and are operating through highly sophisticated and undetectable devices that broadcast real and imaginary images.It remains a mystery that who uploaded the videos showing the Army in a negative frame or the heckling of CRPF personnel in Budgam on the polling day on April 9. It is also not known who shot and uploaded the video of the “human shield” used by the Army. The video has been shot professionally as the camera deftly captures the images from the front and then moves to the top and then straight before going to the rear.“This is highly professional work,” a source said, adding that it is suspected that some hi-tech minds are involved with a large financial support.The MHA authorities are looking into the whole affair and are trying to find out ways to get rid of the propaganda-churning machinery. They believe that something more than mobile phone cameras are at work.“We have confirmed and reconfirmed that it is Pakistan behind the trouble. Other factors are secondary,” the source told The Tribune.

Human shield video shot ‘professionally’

• It remains a mystery who uploaded the recent videos on Kashmir showing the Army in a negative frame or the heckling of CRPF personnel in Budgam. It is also not known who shot and uploaded the video of the “human shield” used by the Army. The video has been shot professionally as the camera deftly captures the images from the front and then moves to the top and then straight before going to the rear.

Clashes in Valley, youths protest use of force against students

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 21

Protests and clashes took place between agitating youth and security personnel at various places in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley after the Friday prayers over the alleged use of force against students recently.The police lobbed teargas shells to dispel the protesters in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar, where youths took to the streets after the congregational Friday prayers, prompting a shutdown in the area.Even as the separatists had given no shutdown call today, spontaneous protest demonstrations were witnessed in various parts of the Valley. There were reports of protests and clashes from Pulwama in south Kashmir and Sopore and Bandipora in north Kashmir.In Sopore town, the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters who were agitating after the Friday prayers.Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who delivers the Friday sermon every week at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, continued to be under house arrest for the seventh consecutive Friday, a spokesman said. He said Mirwaiz had expressed concern over the use of force against students of Government Degree College, Pulwama, on April 15 and the subsequent harassment of the protesting students in other parts of the Valley.Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed the principals of all colleges to adopt a proactive approach in dealing with any untoward incident on the campuses and focus on ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in the institutions. He also asked them not to allow any outsiders on the premises of their institutions.

Colleges to remain closed today

• Srinagar: While the higher educational institutions in the Valley remained closed on Friday to prevent any further protests by students, the divisional administration said the teaching work in all colleges shall remain suspended on April 22 as a precautionary measure. However, protests were witnessed in Bandipora, where students of Government Boys High School, Bagh, hit the streets, triggering a shutdown in the main town. The Valley witnessed massive student protests on April 17 against alleged thrashing of students, including girls, by security personnel at Government Degree College, Pulwama, on April 15. TNS

Police lob teargas shells to quell protests

• Protests and clashes were reported from Srinagar, Pulwama in south Kashmir and Sopore and Bandipora in north Kashmir
• The police lobbed teargas shells to dispel the protesters in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar and in Sopore town