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| Terrorism is yet to end in Kashmir | | | Though the number of incidents of violence had remained low in 2018 when compared to 2017 but the current year has been the most challenging for the security forces and for the Army, guarding the LoC and for the BSF, deployed on the IB in Jammu sector. However, despite the surge in militant and forces killings, there was also rise in militant recruitment. Even as Government of India halted anti-militancy operations in the State between May 16 and June 15 during Ramadan ceasefire, the year witnessed highest 587 incidents of violence. As of December 29, 257 militants, most of them locals, were killed in encounters with forces across the Valley. During the year, 91 forces personnel and over 100 civilians were also killed in militancy-related incidents in the Valley. The killings recorded in 2018 are the highest in last ten years in Kashmir. The troops had launched "Operation All Out" against militants last year after they gained foothold especially in south Kashmir following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016.
The government is following hard approach to crush the militancy in the Valley. However, so is the unrelenting peoples' support to militants particularly in south Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag, which have become breeding ground for local militants.
Highly educated youth-turned-militants like Kashmir University Assistant professor Mohammad Rafi Bhat of Ganderbal, IAS aspirant Sabzar Ahmad of Anantnag, PhD scholar Manan Bashir Wani of Kupwara and MBA pass-out Ishfaq Yousuf Wani of Pulwama were killed in encounters with forces this year. Besides, top militant commanders like Saddam Padder, Sameer Tiger and Naveed Jhatt were killed in gunfights with troops this year.
Jhatt, who had sent the security grid in Kashmir into tizzy after dramatic escape from Srinagar's SMHS hospital in a broad-day light on February 6 this year, was killed in a gunfight with forces at Kuthpora village in central Kashmir's Budgam district on November 28. Police had said that Jhatt was a prime suspect in assassination of prominent journalist, Syed Shujaat Bukhari. Bukhari along with his two guards were killed in, Srinagar on June 14, when they were leaving to break the day.
The year saw fall of the PDP-BJP coalition Government when the BJP decided to pull out of the Government thereby placing the state under Governor's rule and later under the President's rule. However, till the end of December neither the Governor nor the Centre is finalizing the schedule for the fresh Assembly elections. The National Conference is for early elections because it wants to take advantage of the bungling during the PDP-BJP coalition Government. And the President of the PDP, Mehbooba Mufti, has described the alliance between the PDP and the BJP the most dirty chapter in the state's politics. And the BJP too had bitter experience with the coalition with the PDP. Even after a trial that BJP would support Sajjad Lone to become the Chief Minister with the purpose of regaining power Lone never was able to secure a comfortable majority even with the support of the BJP, which has 25 members. In the face of political instability horse trading has begun and while the three PDP rebels joined the Peoples' Conference led by Sajjad Lone one BJP MLA has joined the National Conference. |
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