Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Nov 08: Amid an increase in terror activities in Kashmir over the past month, particularly a shift of focus from the Valley to the Jammu region, there are indications of a maneuver by Pakistan to disrupt peace in the Union Territory. However, the security forces have delivered a strong response, killing seven militants in just eight days this November.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that, in seven encounters, two local militants were among those killed. He said two local militants killed in Shabgus Anantnag, a foreign militant commander in Srinagar’s Khanyar area, a foreign militant in Bandipora forest, and another foreign militant in Lolab forest. In a fresh gunfight, two militants were killed in a Sopore anti-militancy operation, and both are said to be residents of Pakistan.
The previous month, October, proved to be tragic in Kashmir’s recent history, recording nine civilian deaths due to terrorist violence. This includes the killings of seven non-local laborers, an army soldier, and a doctor. Besies, a non-local laborer from Bihar was killed in Shopian, and two soldiers and two army porters were killed in a militant attack on an army vehicle in Gulmarg.
In another attack on migrant workers in Budgam, two individuals were injured.
These attacks occurred shortly after the first assembly elections in over a decade, marking a significant political shift since the revocation of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status under Article 370. The National Conference-Congress coalition emerged victorious in the assembly election, with Omar Abdullah resuming his role as Chief Minister.
In response to the rising terror incidents, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed the police to conduct a security assessment of ongoing infrastructure projects. This includes the establishment of continuous checkpoints at critical sites, an increase in nighttime patrols, and the implementation of a comprehensive security and intelligence strategy through collaborative operations with the army and other security forces to combat terrorism effectively.
In another statement, Lieutenant Governor Sinha remarked that those who support terrorism in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will face serious consequences. He emphasized, “No one who promotes terrorism will be spared.” The Lieutenant Governor stated that terrorists targeting our people will be brought to justice, warning the perpetrators and those aiding and sheltering terrorists.
“We will not spare terrorists and those aiding and abetting them in targeting our people. We will bring them to justice. The people must stand up against the perpetrators of terror. Security forces, the administration, and the community should work together to eradicate terrorism,” the LG said.
Meanwhile, the spike in terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir has raised alarms, with questions emerging over whether this surge is linked to the recent election results. While violence in the region is not uncommon, the timing of these incidents has prompted discussions about the possibility of the post-election environment influencing the current security situation.
