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| Perceptible rise in militancy raises concerns about escalation | | | Majid Ahmad
SRINAGAR, Aug 22: The perceptible rise in militancy in the last few months in Kashmir has raised concerns in the security establishment about an escalation in future.
Experts cite shift of focus of the security forces from conducting anti-insurgency operations to handling law and order problems as one of the main reasons for the rise in militant activities. "Security forces have increasingly been involved in handling law and order problems and protests since 2008 Amarnath land row agitation and 2010 summer unrest in which more that 100 people were killed. As a result, counter-insurgency operations were badly hampered," a senior police officer told Early Times. He said security forces concentrated all efforts to maintain peace in J&K and handling largely civilian crowds which gave militants time to regroup, recruit and consolidate. The officer claimed that withdrawal of several battalions of para-military CRPF also hurt counter-insurgency operations. "It helps to have a paramilitary force to complement the J&K police in civilian areas, especially, rather than the Army whose personnel are trained to shoot in order to kill," he said and cited the Bandipora incident where two young men were killed during an ambush laid by the Army leading to violent protests.
The Army is effective along the LoC and the hinterland.
Sources said Pakistan-based terror groups have intensified their infiltration attempts along the border in J&K where around 300 terrorists are active. "Around 250 to 300 battle-ready militants are waiting on the other side of LoC to cross into Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 42 launch pads have been set up on the Pakistani side of LoC to facilitate the infiltration of the terrorists into the Indian side," they said.
Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh, General Officer Commanding of Valley based 15 corps, which is responsible for guarding the LoC and counter insurgency operations in the Kashmir had recently said that terror infrastructure is intact on the Pakistani side of the LoC was intact. "There are number of terrorist camps and launch pads (across the LoC). We have an efficient Intelligence network," said Lt Gen Singh. Counter infiltration grid of the Army on the Line of Control has foiled 17 infiltration bids this year. "A total of 13 hardcore Pakistan trained terrorists were killed. The numbers of such attempts have doubled this year in comparison to the corresponding period last year," sources said.
Despite foiling the large number of infiltration bids the number of active militants in Jammu and Kashmir stands at 250 to 300 militants. Around 12 militants and a soldier were killed in one of the biggest operations on the LoC and hinterland in the Kupwara district recently. Pakistan army's desperation is also evident by the fact that there has been substantial increase in the number of cease fire violations this year. "There have 80 percent more violations this year compared to 2012," sources added. |
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