'Taliban' pamphlets threatening dreadful consequences surface in Indian Kashmir

Posters warned petrol pump owners of consequences if they allow military vehicles to refuel at their establishments

 

Pamphlets and posters warning of attacks by the Taliban on telecoms, petrol pumps, cable operators and bootleggers have surfaced in Indian Kashmir’s Sopore area, where terrorists recently killed two men working with cellular service providers.

The posters, which bore the initials of the Tehreek-e-Taliban’s Kashmir wing, warned petrol pump owners of dreadful consequences if they allow military and police vehicles to refuel at their establishments.

On the other hand, cable operators were told to stop airing Indian television shows, while people selling alcohol and drugs were asked to immediately stop such un-Islamic activities.

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Furthermore, residents were told not to give shelter to non-Kashmiri labourers in their homes.

This is the first time Taliban posters have surfaced in the area, even though police earlier stated that there was no presence of the terrorist organisation in the valley. On the contrary, Indian intelligence agencies reported in January stated that the Taliban are trying to send militants from across the border into the state.

The posters have raised fears amongst residents of the volatile border districts, especially in Baramulla district, where mobile phone services were suspended after the killing of two telecom workers in May.

Most of the service providers in the area have shut their signal towers, hitting cellphone connectivity.

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The police said most of these towers were operating now, but reports from remote areas suggested otherwise.

The police initially dismissed these incidents as “local mischief” but changed their approach after intelligence reports suggested involvement of a Hizbul Mujahideen module.

This article originally appeared in the Hindustan Times.