A Kashmiri youth who joined the militancy and was pictured at the funeral of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat surrendered to the Handwara police today.

The youngster - identified as Danish Ahmed, a resident of Handwara - was seen in video clips from Bhat's funeral that were shared on social media. Initially, the youngster was unidentified, with the videos showing a boy in a black outfit, wearing a battle pouch with a grenade in it.

Notably, Danish's surrender comes as security forces in Kashmir have steadily eliminated or detained a number of top Hizbul militants. In fact, from the 11 Hizbul militants present in a viral photo from last year (among others, Burhan Wani and Sabzar Bhat were in that picture), forces have killed nine and have managed to get one to surrender.

DANISH'S STORY

Danish was recently seen in video clips clicked in Tral, Awantipora by local media during the funeral of Sabzar Bhat, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on May 27. The video clips helped identify him as Danish Ahmed, a third-year Bachelor of Science student at the Doon P.G. College of Agriculture Science and Technology, Dehradun.

Danish was suspected of having been involved in stone-pelting incidents at Handwara during the 2016 unrest. Back then, he was picked up by police but was let off after counselling in order to protect his career.

Once security agencies became convinced that Danish had joined the militancy, Handwara police and the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Indian Army got in touch with his parents and asked them to counsel their son and get him to surrender.

His parents were convinced that if Danish surrenders, he would be dealt with fairly under the law. Efforts made by security forces yielded results and Danish surrendered today before the Handwara police and the Rashtriya Rifles. SSP (Handwara) Javed Jeelani said, Nitish Kumar, said "We want youth to join the mainstream and (want to) give them opportunity to reform."

THE SABZAR CONNECTION

Security sources tell India Today that Danish picked up arms on the day Sabzar died. The videos, in which he could be seen being carried by the crowd on shoulders, led to his identification.

The sources add that the Hizbul handler who was linked to Sabzar Bhat was the one under whose influence Danish joined militancy.

GETTING DISILLUSIONED

During initial interrogation, Danish revealed that he was in touch with several militants in south Kashmir via social media websites and applications and that it was due to their instigation that he had decided to become a terrorist.

As his first task, Hizbul Mujahideen commanders asked Danish to 'activate' local youth in north Kashmir in order to make the region as militancy infested as the southern part of Kashmir. However, after spending a few days with the terrorists in south Kashmir, he grew disillusioned with the militancy.

Danish told interrogators that he is not the only one to get disillusioned with the militancy so quickly. According to him, most local boys become disenchanted with the 'gun' after just a few days of joining the militancy.

However, they are too afraid to surrender because they believe their lives are under threat from their commanders. Several newly inducted militants also fear they would be socially ostracised by their relatives and neighbours who 'look down' upon surrendered militants, Danish further said.

TAKING UP THE GUN FOR LOVE

Danish further revealed that most of the militants indulge in acts of extortion in areas of their operations. Several local boys join militancy to become friends with local girls who, Danish said, treat them as 'heroes.'

Many, including Zakir Musa or Reyaz Naikoo of Hizbul Mujahideen and Dujana of Lashkar-e-Taiba have multiple 'girlfriends', Danish told officials.

According to Danish, these militants often enjoy the image of being Robin Hoods - they settle personal disputes between villagers and extract 'protection money' from local bigwigs.

In his interrogation, Danish also said that while there is no dearth of funding for the militancy, local militants often loot banks in Kashmir for extra cash. The looted money is used to buy new gadgets, fancy clothes and expensive gifts for their girlfriends.

Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Danish and is considering rehabilitating him under the J&K Surrendered Militants Rehabilitation Policy.

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