After the formation of the new government in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorist incidents are increasing. In recent times, many such incidents have taken place in Kishtwar and Srinagar.
Last Sunday, 10 November, an encounter took place between terrorists and the Indian Army in Kishtwar.
In this, an army officer was killed and three soldiers were injured. A search operation has been going on since Monday to find the terrorists in this area.
Last week, two people associated with the Village Defense Guards (VDG) were killed by terrorists in a village in Kishtwar.
After almost two decades, a terrorist incident has taken place in the Zabarwan hills of Srinagar.
On the other hand, in Sopore too, the police have claimed to have killed a terrorist during an encounter this Sunday.
Increasing extremist attacks
Meanwhile, according to the latest incident, an encounter started between the army and extremists in Bandipora, North Kashmir on Tuesday, November 12.
This information was given by the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army in Srinagar on X.
Chinar Corps has posted, “…Intelligence information was received about the presence of terrorists in Nagmarg, Bandipora. After this, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police started a joint operation. When the security forces challenged them, they started firing indiscriminately. Our soldiers retaliated promptly. The operation is ongoing.”
In the last one month, there have been many extremist incidents in the Kashmir Valley. More than fifteen people have been killed in these. This includes migrant laborers, soldiers and common Kashmiris.
These incidents of extremism in the Kashmir Valley are happening after the assembly elections are over and the new government has been formed. It seemed that extremist incidents in Kashmir were decreasing.
However, incidents of extremism have been seen continuously in the Jammu region since the year 2021. Extremism started spreading in Jammu and Kashmir in the year 1989.
What do the figures say?
There are figures related to extremist incidents on the South Asia Terrorism Portal. There were 140 incidents of extremism-related killings in Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2020.
In these incidents, 33 common people, 56 security personnel, and 232 extremists were killed.
Year There were 153 incidents of murder in 2021. In these, 36 common people, 45 security personnel, and 193 extremists were killed.
According to the portal, in this way, 151 incidents of extremism-related murders were reported in the year 2022. In these incidents, 30 common people, 30 security personnel, and 193 extremists were killed.
A total of 72 incidents of murder have been reported in the year 2023. In these incidents, 12 common people, 33 security personnel, and 87 extremists have been killed.
However, till November 7 this year, a total of 58 incidents have been reported. In these incidents, 30 common people, 26 security personnel, and 63 extremists have been killed.
(This data on the South Asia Terrorism Portal is updated till November 10, 2024)
What are the experts saying?
‘Terrorism has definitely decreased but…’
The BBC spoke to some security experts on the incidents happening in the Kashmir Valley. They say that the extremists are trying to show that everything is not okay in Kashmir.
Deependra Singh Hooda, former General Commanding Officer (GOC) of the Northern Command of the Indian Army, says, “The terrorists want to reject the government’s claim that everything is okay now. The government says that elections have been held. The government has also been formed. Tourists are also coming to Kashmir.”
He said, “The terrorist incidents that are happening now should be seen in this context. Through this, they are giving the message that everything is not okay in Jammu and Kashmir. That is why terrorists are choosing such targets.”
He says, “Terrorists are targeting infrastructure projects. They are killing laborers. They are killing village defense guards.”
Hooda believes that incidents of extremism are happening due to infiltration.
He says, “The incidents of terrorism in Jammu have happened due to the recent infiltration. Recently, there was an attack in Gulmarg in Kashmir. That too is the result of the recent infiltration.”
He says, “Pakistan is also trying to show that the situation is not normal. This is an attempt to create a special kind of atmosphere.”
He said, “Terrorism does not only mean killing someone by shooting him. This is also a matter of sending a message. Terrorism remains alive in this way.”
He points out, “If we compare last year and this year, it is not that the incidents have suddenly increased. What needs to be seen is what kind of target the terrorists are choosing. Not only this, the time of the incident is also important.”
When he was asked why these incidents of extremism are not stopping, Hooda said, “If you say that the graph should reach zero, then it is not possible.”
He says, “If security forces are deployed in every village of Srinagar, then this is also not right. Then only people in uniform will be seen. People will raise the question that if the situation is normal then why are security forces deployed everywhere.” Hooda says, “Terrorism has definitely reduced after 2019. But it is also not right to say that Article 370 was an obstacle in everything.” He says, “In my opinion, a holistic approach needs to be adopted to reduce terrorism. Many things are needed to reduce terrorism. Development is needed. Radicalism needs to be reduced. There is a need to reach out to the local people.” It is worth noting that on August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi government abolished Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. The special status given through this was also abolished. After this, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were made two separate union territories. While repealing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the central government claimed that it was a major obstacle in ending extremism and opening the path of development.
After ten years, assembly elections have been held in Jammu and Kashmir this year.
The Indian government and security agencies have repeatedly accused Pakistan of infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir. However, Pakistan has been denying this.
Just last month, a new government of National Conference was formed in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of Omar Abdullah.
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‘Pakistan does not want peace’
Former Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Shesh Paul Ved says on the incidents of extremism, “All this is the result of infiltration. There was infiltration in the Jammu region before the elections. They showed their presence there.”
He says, “There has been infiltration in the Kashmir region as well. They are attacking there too. Secondly, Pakistan does not want peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said, “They want to change the narrative of the government that the situation has become normal after the removal of Article 370. They want to show the world that the Kashmir issue is still alive.”
He says, “Pakistan’s intelligence and military machinery is secretly promoting these things.”
Ved says, “It is because of intelligence agencies that terrorists are being reached. They are also being killed. There is a partnership between the army and the BSF to stop infiltration on the border.”
He says, “On the other hand, terrorists have also changed their strategy. They no longer use mobile phones. Wherever they get local help, security forces or police reach them. They are also being killed in encounters.”
However, except for extremist incidents, stone pelting incidents have stopped in the Kashmir Valley after the year 2019. The series of strikes has stopped.
‘Terrorism must first be stopped from across the border’
Former DIG of Jammu and Kashmir Police and author Ali Mohammad Watli asks, “Tell me when did terrorism end here? It just happens that sometimes its graph increases and sometimes it decreases.”
He says, “Incidents have increased in the Kashmir valley for the past few days. A new government has been formed in Jammu and Kashmir, so they are making their presence felt.”
He said, “Whether the government is new or old, I don’t think these things can ever stop. Before the formation of the new government, Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by the Lieutenant Governor. Terrorist incidents have taken place in that regime as well.”
He says, “A month ago there was silence in Kashmir. It is breaking now. These incidents can increase even more. If it is being said that terrorism has been brought under control, then it is wrong. Bringing terrorism under control is when there are no terrorists left.”
He says, “Local as well as outsiders are involved in carrying out whatever terrorist incidents are taking place.”
On the issue of stopping extremism, he says, “First of all it has to be stopped at the border. The terrorists enter Jammu and Kashmir from the border itself. After reaching here, they join four more people with them.”
He says, “Secondly, drugs are also smuggled across the border. There is a very strong nexus between extremism and drugs. Whoever brings drugs, also brings weapons.”
After every major extremist incident in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has been issuing orders to the security forces to destroy the infrastructure of extremism.
Extremist incidents started once again in the Jammu region in the year 2021.
However, the scope of these extremist incidents was the Pir Panjal (Poonch-Rajouri) area of Jammu. But, now the entire Jammu region has come under its grip.
what do the politicians say
After the sudden rise in the incidents of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah demanded an investigation into these attacks.
He said that there was an attempt to weaken Omar Abdullah’s government.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has blamed Pakistan for these terrorist attacks.
Former Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Ravindra Raina has criticized Farooq Abdullah’s statement demanding an investigation into the terrorist incidents.
Raina had said on November 2, “When Farooq Abdullah knows that terrorism is coming from Pakistan, then what is the need to investigate it? Everyone should support the army, police, and security forces.”
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