Significant reduction in social media videos of glorified militants in Kashmir

Militants killed in 'operation all out' by security forces has seemingly put pressure on their social media status as well. The videos of glorifying militants on social media have reduced significantly.

A recent trend showed that several video of militants released every week in social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. In the videos, militants were shown using gun salutes to top militant leaders in Valley, terrorist playing cricket and few showed them brandishing AK 47 while patrolling the jungles in South Kashmir.

While recent spate of militant killing is being pegged at 170, and top faces of terror often appearing in some of the viral videos in valley eliminated, the terror organisations seem to be under immense pressure.

Few of the latest video's doing the round on social media are the ones where civilians have been shown as the target. The militants deliberately avoid showing their faces in such videos.

DG CRPF RR Bhatnagar confirmed the trend to India Today. "The terrorist are under pressure presumably because the videos have given away their locations on few occasions. Having failed to launch a spectacular attack on security forces, they are now resorting to using videos choosing softer targets and civilians," he said.

While the frequency of glorification video is ebbing, there are still several photos which continue to haunt security forces. The picture of local militant Sameer alias Tiger holding M4 carbine went viral recently. The security forces feel that an occasional photo is a pressure tactic response of militants. However, social media is continued to be seen as a tool for propaganda war, militants use for what security forces say has ability to influence young minds.

The security agency officers have burnt midnight oil to deal with 'bedroom jihadis' who got inspired from social media in the past few months.  Agencies did a temporary social media ban and then later identified offensive and extreme social media accounts who would often post video's glorying militants. They were slapped with notices helping contain a cycle of such videos.

In other instance, onus was put on social media administrator. The conspiracy to churn such videos and forwards continued while agency like Cert-In worked to even remove such videos.

J&K Police is known to have counselled several youth who were part of such social media groups.

A young video journalist by name of Kamran was arrested by NIA for his alleged involvement in terror funding case was said to be part of such social media groups. While NIA sources said Kamran orchestrated stone pelting, in Kashmir, he was the one credited for shooting extensive militant videos which later went viral on social media.

Zakir Musa the poster boy of Ansar Ghawat Ul Hind had warned militants to stay away from smartphones to avoid tracking. Only few pictures have emerged about the new set of militants. Some of the videos have only a voice over with pictures pasted on them.

Another senior officer tells India Today on 'the significant change to do with shifting of the darbar.' Another source in Kashmir gives credit to police and NIA. "There has been a huge crackdown on trouble makers."