Sopore, March 20, KNT: Posters purportedly issued by militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba surfaced in Batapora area of Sopore in north Kashmir, warning people allegedly involved in drug peddling, liquor trade and gambling to refrain from such activities.
According to local residents, handwritten posters appeared at several locations in the militancy-affected hamlet during the night.
The posters, attributed to “Mujahideen Lashkar-e-Taiba,” warned certain individuals against spreading what the group described as social evils in the area.
The posters also reportedly mentioned the names of at least 18 persons, alleging their involvement in liquor trade, gambling and drug-related activities.
In the posters, the group claimed that Batapora Sopore had historically been associated with the “freedom struggle,” but alleged that it had now become a hub of activities such as liquor consumption, drug use and gambling.
The posters warned those named of “dire consequences” if they failed to stop the activities attributed to them.
The message also appealed to residents to cooperate in what it described as efforts to remove “social evils” from the locality.
Police said they were examining the matter to verify the authenticity of the posters.
A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said it was too early to confirm whether the posters were genuinely issued by the militant outfit or if they were placed as a prank.
“We are investigating the matter and it is too premature to say whether these posters are genuine or just a prank,” the officer said.
Authorities said further investigation is underway to determine the origin of the posters and assess the situation in the area. [KNT]
