There is nothing new in the revelation that large amount of suspected Hawala funds from Gulf countries is being used for creating infrastructure for radicalisation of youths in a bid to wean them away from centuries old Sufi tradition. It looks religion, money, terrorism and unrest in Kashmir Valley have been running hand-in-hand. Money is playing a major role in radicalisation of youth and there is no dearth of sympathisers and supporters of terror and the fund support in the name of religion. Of late Kashmir Valley has been witnessing a surge in new religious institutions which have been instrumental in indoctrinating youth with the ideology practised by ISIS and al-Qaeda terror groups. This new trend has left many religious heads worried. During various stone-pelting incidents in the Valley, the ‘ISIS-JK’ flags were openly waved by miscreants. The recent spurt in growth of large number of local militants can be attributed to this new trend and change in mindset of sections of the younger generation who have become more hostile, is also a general observation across the board among all wings of security agencies. This large inflow of Hawala funds from Gulf countries and more Kashmiri youths getting sucked into militancy are dangerously stoking terrorism in the Valley in a fresh test for security forces in their anti-militancy operations. While terming it as a dangerous trend, security officials said the difference between today’s militancy and that during early 1990s is the ideological conviction of the present lot is far more superior than that of the terror groups during the previous years. Kashmir is witnessing a trend of Pan-Islamisation where the young boys are opting for the path of terrorism knowing fully well that they are at the risk of being killed. Since January this year, nearly seven boys have reportedly vanished from the Valley with Kulgam and Anantnag in south Kashmir accounting for them. Last year, according to a reply in the Parliament, 82 boys had been sucked into militancy. Though it is too early to come to any conclusion, but emergence of such a trend is a dangerous one as ISIS weaning its influence in Syria and other countries may find these youth right fodder to carry out their mission in India.
