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Hacked? Hizbul handle posts pro-India tweets, blasts Kashmir separatist leaders

The Twitter handle of banned militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen began posting pro-India tweets that denounced Kashmir’s separatist leadership on Friday morning, astounding many across the Valley.

Updated on: Mar 10, 2017, 21:39:12 IST
Hindustan Times, Srinagar | By
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The Twitter handle of banned militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen began posting pro-India tweets that denounced Kashmir’s separatist leadership on Friday morning, astounding many across the Valley.

Representative picture. The Twitter handle of militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen appeared to have been hacked on March 10, 2017, though the outfit did not issue any clarification about it. (Getty Images/iStock Photo)
Representative picture. The Twitter handle of militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen appeared to have been hacked on March 10, 2017, though the outfit did not issue any clarification about it. (Getty Images/iStock Photo)

While this development led observers to believe that hackers had taken control of the militant organisation’s handle, the Hizbul leadership has not issued any clarification in this regard.

The tweets under contention were critical of several important resistance leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front head Yasin Malik and Hurriyat Conference chairperson Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

“Syed Ali Shah Geelani is a puppet of Nawaz Sharif, who even tried to corrupt me and the Hizbul with money and land in Pakistan,” one of the tweets read. “I implore the people of Kashmir to openly denounce those like Syed Ali Shah Geelani & Yasin Malik.”

The first tweet by hizbmedia, which came around 10 am, said Hizbul chief Syed Salludin had realised his mistake and now desired peace with India. Another said “peace would return to Kashmir”, and “dialogue was the only way” to solve the state’s problems.

The alleged hackers posted photographs of Kashmiri women and children, identifying them as the families of militants who now wanted to make a homecoming. “We are returning to India as good souls of Allah. Please save our families,” the last tweet read.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Toufiq Rashid

Chief of bureau of HT at Srinagar, Toufiq has been covering the volatile state of Kashmir for the past seven years. Was working as special correspondent in Indian Express in New Delhi, covering health and wellness. Has done human interest stories from across the country for almost a decade.

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