Radicalisation in Kashmir due to social media, Army is tackling it: Rawat

Bipin Rawat brushed aside issue of braid chopping incidents in as a 'routine matter'

Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Saturday that radicalisation in Kashmir was being addressed with a "lot of seriousness", as he blamed the social media for its rise.

Rawat, on a day-long visit here, also brushed aside the issue of alleged braid chopping incidents in the state as a "routine matter" that the civil administration and the police would deal with.

"Radicalisation is taking place. It is a worldwide phenomenon that radicalisation is taking place. We are addressing it with a lot of seriousness," Rawat told reporters here when asked if radicalisation was taking place in the Kashmir Valley.

Rawat, while speaking on the sidelines of a function where he presented President's Standards to 47 Armoured Regiment, said that the Jammu and Kashmir government, the police, the administration and everybody was concerned about radicalisation.

"We are trying to ensure that people are being weaned away from this kind of radicalisation," Rawat said.

The Army chief blamed the social media for the radicalisation of the people, particularly the youth in the state.

"It (radicalisation) is happening mainly because of the social media," he said.

Asked about the challenge being faced by the government and the security agencies due to the alleged braid chopping incidents that have triggered violent protests in the state, Rawat said, "Why do you see it as a challenge."

It has been happening in other parts of the country and now it has started happening in Kashmir as well, the Army chief said.

"We don't see it as a challenge. It is a routine matter. Civil administration and police is taking action into it and it will be foiled by taking actions," he said.

Asked if the separatists were taking advantage of this to trigger turmoil in the Valley, he said the role of media was important to uncover the truth behind it.

Rawat, while replying to a question on whether the NIA raids were aimed at mellowing down separatists in the Valley and giving a jolt to the stone pelters, said the central government's approach was being followed in Kashmir to deal with the situation and the NIA raids were part of that.

"When the whole of the government approach is adopted then every aspect and every machinery of the government is to play a part and whatever success the NIA raids have achieved will emerge in the near future," he said.