Youths who uploaded militant photos let off after counselling

Nearly a dozen students, detained by the police for allegedly uploading pictures and videos of militants on social networking sites, have been handed over to their parents after counselling.

The youths, mostly in the age group of 16 to 19 were detained in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district earlier this month after the police registered a case under the Unlawful Activities Act at the Awantipora police station against unknown men for uploading videos and photos of militants on social networking sites.

“During investigations, we detained nearly a dozen students who were found to have uploaded videos of militants. We counselled them and their parents and made them understand that it was a serious crime, which leads youngsters to take up arms,” said a police officer. “They were not booked formally and released later,” he added.

The police officer said the youths had been warned that if they again uploaded pictures of militants, they would be dealt under law.

Sources said the students were picked up by police after contacting social networking site Facebook and messaging mobile application WhatsApp.

Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar, 21, who carries a reward of Rs 10 lakh, has in recent past taken to the virtual world and uploaded videos and pictures on the social media to attract youth towards militancy.

In a video uploaded recently, he asked Kashmiri youth to join them.

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