Rs 7,000 a month for throwing stones and Molotovs at Indian forces at Kashmir

'This is our bread and butter': Undercover reporters film Kashmiri 'stone-pelters' admit to being paid Rs 7,000 a month for throwing stones and Molotovs at Indian forces

India Today TV's undercover reporters have revealed the grim reality of stone pelting in Kashmir
A number of the stone throwers have admitted to being on the payroll of unknown 'underground masters' in order to attack security forces
The men are alleged to be paid 'Rs 5,000-Rs 7,000 a month'

Source-http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-4362020/Kashmiri-stone-pelters-admit-paid-film.html Published: 23:26 BST, 29 March 2017 | Updated: 01:03 BST, 30 March 2017http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jammu-and-kashmir-stone-pelters-hizbul-mujahideen-burhan-wani/1/915751.html
At an unknown address in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, fugitive stone-pelters dropped their face masks for a conversation with India Today TV's undercover reporters.

With that, they also revealed disturbing truths behind the unrest in the Valley that followed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's killing last year.

Zakir Ahmad Bhat, Farooq Ahmad Lone, Wasim Ahmed Khan, Mushtaq Veeri and Ibrahim Khan made startling confessions: from being on the payroll of their underground masters to carrying out deadly attacks on security forces, public servants and property in the troubled region.



A Kashmiri protester throw stones and pieces of bricks towards Indian policemen: The men are alleged to be paid 'Rs 5,000-Rs 7,000.

'It's Rs 5,000-Rs 7,000 a month and clothes. Sometimes shoes as well,' said Bhat when asked whether he was paid to charge at security forces with stones.

Young boys took to throwing stones in mass demonstrations that rocked Kashmir Valley in 2008 and 2010.

Since then, it has become a popular way for youths to express their anger against the government, and authorities have been constantly looking to stamp out a repeat in the escalations of violence.


Bhat is also a specialist in Molotov cocktails or petrol bombs. He is wanted for arson attacks during last year's stone-pelting protests that erupted after the death of Wani, who had a large social media following and was credited with reviving militancy in Kashmir.

By his own admission, Bhat sounded unapologetic about forging contracts with obscure enemies to strike at troops in the Valley.

'We pelt security forces with stones – J&K police personnel, Army jawans, MLAs and government vehicles.' But this hired extremist refused to disclose the identity of his financiers.


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

He admitted to hurling stones in Baramulla, Sopore and Pattan. 'Now, we go to the downtown (in Baramulla), where we protest on Fridays.'

He would also supply and use petrol bombs. 'We get separate funds for making petrol bombs,' Bhat said.

He charges up to Rs 700 for making one Molotov cocktail.

'I must have made 50-60 bombs. We throw them on vehicles and whosoever comes in between,' he said.

From July to October last year, as many as 19,000 people were injured and 92 killed in a series of clashes between rock-throwing protesters and security forces in Kashmir, news reports suggest.

Around 4,000 security personnel were among the wounded. Two jawans were reportedly among the dead. But for stone-pelters such as Farooq Ahmad Lone, violent agitations are their livelihood.

'It could be Rs 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 or even Rs 5,000,' said Lone, quoting his daily income from organising shutdowns and stone-throwing demonstrations.

'We have been pelting stones since 2008.' Wasim Ahmed Khan put his monthly stipend from rock-hurling protests at Rs 5,000-Rs 6,000.

For accomplice Veeri, it's Rs 700 a day on weekdays and up to Rs 1,000 on holy Fridays.


Kashmiri Muslims throw stones towards Indian police during a protest in Srinagar

'So, the man who pays you belongs to your village?' asked India Today TV's investigative reporter.

'He just arrives. He's known to one of my friends,' replied Veeri, refusing to name his paymaster.

But pelters did disclose how they were assigned their job well in advance.

The hidden masterminds would use the Internet to organise stone-pelting across various locations in Jammu and Kashmir, revealed Ibrahim Khan.

Instructions regarding potential targets, he explained, were circulated on group-messaging services beforehand.

'Instructions are issued on WhatsApp groups,' Khan said. 'Who are you asked to pelt stones at?' asked the reporter.

'A policemen, Army personnel, whoever comes forward. There are clear directives,' Khan, who makes up to Rs 20,000 a month from the protests, answered.

Young children, he claimed, were also recruited as pelters. 'How much are children paid?' probed the undercover journalist.

'It depends upon who the boy is. If he has a good physique, he will be paid around Rs 7,000 - Rs 7,500,' Khan said.

But if the child recruit is weak, he would get around Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000, he added.


India Today TV's undercover reporters have revealed the grim reality of stone pelting in Kashmir

For children up to 12 years, the minimum payment for stone-pelting is fixed at Rs 4,000, said Khan. Bhat, Veeri and Wasim Ahmad Khan then shared their track-record in executing attacks on security personnel and government property.

'We hurled petrol bombs at a vehicle parked on a bridge. Two people were charred,' said Bhat, referring to a 2014 assault on a pair of policemen. Veeri said he had injured at least 30 to 35 people from various security agencies till now.