July 23
With the killing of top Lashkar commanders including Abu Dujana, Abu Ismail, Bashir Lashkari and others, Lashkar according to security agencies was in its worst crisis.
Security establishments in their statements last year have also revealed after killing of Abu Dujana and Abu Ismail had left Lashkar leaderless and only 15 to 20 militants associated were with Lashkar e Taiba in South Kashmir.
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As per official data more than 25 Lashkar militants have been killed in South Kashmir since last year however there is no end at sight as locals are continuously picking up guns and joining militant groups including Lashkar e Taiba.
A senior police official told The Kashmiriyat on condition of anonymity that after a Pakistani militant Naveed jatt escaped from SMHS in beginning of this year, Lashkar started to gain ground and now he has started to recruit new youth in Lashkar.
Naveed jatt according to his sources is heading LeT in South Kashmir and is recruiting new youth into Lashkar.
Pertinently in last 15 days around eight youth including a Policeman who deserted with his rifle from South Kashmir have joined Lashkar as their photographs wielding guns have went viral on social media.
The latest one to join Lashkar e Taiba is Irfan Ahmad Digoo son of Manzoor Ahmad Digoo resident of Naina Pulwama.
The family members of Irfan speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that Irfan went missing in the beginning of this month and after failing to trace him we filed a missing report at Police station lassipora.
“However on Friday last, his picture carrying a weapon went viral on social media that left us all shocked as we were not expecting this step from him,” says his father Manzoor Ahmad who is driver by profession.
He said that Irfan never showed any inclination towards militancy and that he cannot say what forced his son to join Militant ranks.
Belonging to a middle class family, Irfan was student of the Government degree college Bijbehara, pursuing B.A. Irfan has left behind parents and two younger brothers.
Aadil Ahmed pal son of Gh Mohammad Pal from Maldera area of Shopian District belonging to economically very rich family also joined LeT.
Ghulam Muhammad Pal a retired government employee and father of Aadil in conversation with The Kashmiriyat said that Adil was brilliant in his studies and they were never expecting this step from him.
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Aadil has left behind parents, elder brother and younger sister.
Others who have joined Lashkar e Taiba in the last 15 days include Aadil Ahmed Dass resident of Waghama Islamabad (Anantnag), Arshid Ahmad Dar son of Gh Rasool Dar resident of Marwal kakapora Pulwama, zahid Ahmad Bhat son of Nazir Ahmad Bhat resident of Drabgam, Arshid Ahmad khan son of bashir Ahmed khan BSc student from Ganopora shopian, zahoor Ahmad lone from Nag Naad Noorabad kulgam, Ufaid Farooq from Awantipora Pulwama.