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Ever since India got freedom from the clutches of the British Raj in 1947 and got a hostile neighbour as a parting gift from them, tensions have always been high on the northern and north-western borders. The state of Jammu and Kashmir, in particular, has been the most affected as clashes between security forces and terrorists have become as common as sawdust around a sawmill.

And it is not just the terrorists armed with guns and grenades that are posing threat to Kashmir’s peace and security. In the last few years, masked stone-pelters have raised more problems for the security forces. From little kids to middle-aged men, these hooligans throw stones and small bombs at various targets and when they themselves get hurt in the crossfires, cry foul citing human rights.

As shocking as it may sound, but stone-pelting and violent protests have become an employment opportunity for Kashmiri youths. Terrorist masterminds pay good money to these people to disrupt peace and order in the region. In a conversation with India Today, stone pelters, named Zakir Ahmad Bhat, Farooq Ahmad Lone, Wasim Ahmed Khan, Mushtaq Veeri and Ibrahim Khan have disclosed the dirty tricks of the trade.

Admitting his crimes without any regrets, Bhat reveals how much he makes a month for throwing stones at authorities and politicians.

“We pelt security forces with stones – JK police personnel, army jawans, MLAs and government vehicles. It’s ₹5,000- ₹7,000 (a month) and clothes. Sometimes shoes as well.”

Bhat, who is wanted for arson during stone-pelting protests in the valley last year, is a specialist in making petrol bombs or ‘Molotov cocktails’. He charges up to ₹700 for a petrol bomb.

“We get separate funds for making petrol bombs. I must have made 50-60 bombs. We throw them on vehicles and whosoever comes in between.”

The masterminds of these attacks contact stone-pelters through messaging services like Whatsapp with very clear instructions. They even brainwash little kids and send them to hurl stones, who have no idea of what’s right or wrong.

The rates are- Boy with a good physique – ₹7,000 – ₹7,500

Weak recruit – ₹5,500 – ₹6,000

For children up to 12 years – ₹4,000

While the hooligans revealed everything about themselves, they didn’t name their recruiters.

“We will die but won’t reveal their names. It’s the question of our bread and butter.”

This eye-opening story says a lot about the ever-pertaining problem of law and order in Kashmir. It is painful to accept the reality, but the terrorists have a stronghold in the region. They brainwash little kids and hand bombs and guns to them at an early age.

It is important to uproot militants from the region but it is equally important to keep little kids from falling prey to these hooligans at a tender age. Providing ample education and employment opportunities to them may solve the problem, but it definitely isn’t going to be easy. Let’s hope that both the state and the central government pay heed to this matter at the earliest so that the future of these kids, Kashmir and India gets brighter than it is now.

News Source: India Today

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