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| NE may be more violent, but J&K remains vulnerable | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Apr 23
Statistics say that the terror focus has now left Jammu and Kashmir and reaches North Eastern India but the indicators suggest that this state continues to be a target of surprise violence and the fast approaching election year may be a renewed security challenge.
The North Eastern states recorded 1,489 incidents of insurgency-related violence in 2007 while Jammu and Kashmir recorded about 900 incidents, according to the latest report titled, Status Paper on Naxal Activities, prepared by the ministry of home affairs.
It is true that Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing lesser number of incidents as compared to the NE but a warning of the renewal of violence always remains. In a latest warning, the United Jehad Council has renewed its call for ‘liberation of Kashmir through guns’.
This warning comes shortly ahead of the state Assembly elections and experts feel that the threat is to propel Kashmir on the agenda of Indo-Pak secretary level talks to be held shortly. An amalgam of fourteen militant outfits, cash-rich, and armed with deadly weapons and fresh cadres from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the UJC, along with dreaded outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba met in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir on Monday and said that guns will continue to play their role in the Valley.
The Police in J&K and other security forces are not taking this threat lightly. “There are already reports that more than 500 trained militants were waiting on the other side of divide for crossing over, the situation can change for the worse any time”, said a Police officer.
Meanwhile the Home Ministry report said that there has been an increase of violent incidents in the NE since 2003, while J&K has been witnessing a declining trend during this period. J&K recorded 3,401 incidents in 2003 as against 1,332 incidents in northeastern states.
The northeastern states which witnessed lesser number of civilians being killed in terrorist violence in comparison to Jammu and Kashmir till the year 2006, have registered 498 civilian casualties last year compared to 158 civilians killed in J&K in the same year.
However, J&K recorded 110 casualties among security forces in the year 2007 as against 79 security personnel killed in action in the northeastern in the same year.
Among the northeastern states, Assam was worst affected by insurgency related violence as far as casualty figures are concerned. The state witnessed highest number of 314 killings including that of security personnel last year in the region. The state witnessed 584 incidents of violence last year. Already 62 killings have taken place in Assam in the first three months of the current year as a result of 153 violent incidents occurring during the period.
There are about 12 insurgents groups are operating in different parts of Assam and out of those the proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam has triggered the maximum number of violent incidents. Two other tribal militant groups, the Black Widow or the anti-talks faction of Dima Halam Daogah and Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front are also not lagging far behind the ULFA in engineering violence in the state especially in two hill districts, North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong. |
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