Counter-terror Ops Ramped Up Amid Rising Terrorism In Kashmir

Villagers in Jammu and Kashmir are handing over terrorists to the police while the state is upping the ante against terror.

This happened Sunday: Two heavily armed LeT terrorists were arrested with two AK assault rifles, seven grenades, a pistol, and a lot of ammunition.

• One was the most-wanted LeT commander Talib Hussain, a resident of Rajouri district and the mastermind of the recent IED blast in the district; the other, Faisal Ahmad Dar of south Kashmir’s Pulwama.

• The terrorists had reached Tukson Dhok of Reasi district to take shelter after sustained pressure from the police and army, but villagers showed great courage in apprehending them.

• Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and DGP Dilbag Singh lauded the villagers for their courage and announced cash rewards for them.

Anti-terror operations: A total of 120 terrorists were killed in Kashmir till 29 June this year. Thirty-two of them were foreign terrorists.

• This is a huge spike from last year, when 55 terrorists were killed in the corresponding period and only two were foreign.

• This is due to a multipronged strategy with better operational synergy adopted by the security forces.

Intelligence inputs: A terrorist is eliminated within 72 hours of the intelligence input received from multiple sources, including human and technical intelligence.

• Prompt action based on intelligence inputs from the ground has limited the areas of activity for terrorists. This has forced the foreign ultras to come out in the open and expose themselves.

• Due to enhanced human and technical intelligence and focused operations, the survival rate of terrorists is drastically decreasing.

• State locals are fed up with terrorism and have been actively trying to distance themselves from the menace by supplying intelligence inputs to the security forces.

Youth still in arms: Around 70 to 75 youths have joined terror groups until the end of June, one estimate suggests.

• This was the figure for all of 2021, which means that increased anti-terror operations have not acted as a deterrence.

• Over 64 per cent of youths taking to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir are killed within a year.

• Only 26.6 per cent survive for more than 12 months, while the fate of 9.3 per cent of youths taking the terror route is unknown.

• The Army has been in communication with families, seeking their assistance in convincing youths not to pick up guns.

Rise in terrorism: Sixty-two incidents of terrorist activity were recorded till 23 May this year, as compared to 31 in the corresponding period last year.

• The state also witnessed several targeted killings of Kashmiri Hindus and Hindu migrants from other parts of the country.

• A suspected terror attack on the Amarnath Yatra was foiled by the security forces and two terrorists were killed.