EditorialFor how long do we keep losing young men?

For how long do we keep losing young men?

Date:

The terrorist attack by Pakistani terrorists by ambushing the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy on highway at Pampore just in the outskirts of summer capital, Srinagar on Saturday, for which Lashker-e- Toiba has claimed responsibility, indicates that the situation in and with regard to terrorism remains unchanged.

The incident has also miserably belied the government's claims that the militancy has receded and they give justifications for grounding the operations against the terrorists hiding in the Kashmir valley, demolishing the security bunkers and eliminating footprints of soldiers.

The strange part is that if one monitors the terror curve in Jammu and Kashmir during the first six months of 2015 and 2016 upto June, picture is amply clear that terrorist activities have been on rise.

The Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti claimed in reply to a question in J&K Legislature on last Tuesday that insurgency had dipped to its lowest ebb as a total of 91 Kashmiri and 54 foreign militants were active in Kashmir valley. She said that a total of 146 militancy related incidents had happened in Kashmir from 15-01-2015 to 15-01-2016 in which 190 people – including 47 forces personnel had got killed. In North Kashmir, 92 people–including 60 militants and 21 security forces and Police personnel—had been killed during the same period while as 54 people—including 34 militants and 12 security forces and Police personnel—had been killed in North Kashmir.

Thirty-seven militants got killed in Kupwara, 18 in Pulwama, 16 in Baramulla and 9 in Shopian. Besides, 13 Police and security forces men were killed in Kupwara and 6 in Baramulla.

According to the acts and statements of separatists, semi-separatists, separatists in disguise in Kashmir have been hell bent to sabotage all efforts of security apparatus to fail and encourage the all anti-India and anti-mainstream feelings among the people of Kashmir. They have been helping the enemies of peace and for subjecting to destruction, severe pains and miseries.

Consistent pressure on these elements within and outside the political streams has created an atmosphere of hatred against the security forces who were compelled to combat the high intensity terrorist actions in the state under much restraints and with putting strings for many dos and don'ts for them thus attempting to demoralize them in their fight against the Pakistan sponsored terrorism.

There were many reports published in local and national media that despite reverses, LeT and other terror groups have been planning for major strikes in Kashmir particularly on police and security forces. Police and security agencies have been alerted on the fresh information that LeT top brass has pushed 50 highly trained and indoctrinated Pakistani terrorists to conduct some major attacks on the prime targets particularly J&K Police and security forces, in and around Srinagar in the months June through October. Reports were also going around that a particular group of 15 LeT militants managed to infiltrate into the Valley through Machhail. However, five militants of the group got killed in different encounters with Army so far. The two killed in the Saturday's retaliation at Pampore may be part of the remaining five.

The attack in Pampore and the similar one that occurred few months back follow a new pattern emerging in Kashmir in recent months. Violence had been steadily dwindling until 2014, when for various reasons it picked up pace again in the Valley. Seemingly, it was because the previous UPA government at the Centre and NC-Congress coalition had failed to politically exploit the opening presented by the ebbing of militancy in the state. An all-out effort at that point would have helped the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh find a possible breakthrough in bringing peace back to Kashmir.

What is especially worrying, and must force military planners and the political top brass in New Delhi to sit up and take note, is the death of its soldiers. India cannot afford to keep losing its young men with such dreary frequency. The Centre, state government and all the stakeholders must address the challenge of the growing alienation among Kashmiris as it is the political leaders who are supposed to make a repo with the people at the ground level to whom they claimed to represent. Enjoying power, perks and privileges is not without their prime duty to connect the alienated people to mainstream to stop spilling blood in the valley.

 

Northlines
Northlines
The Northlines is an independent source on the Web for news, facts and figures relating to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and its neighbourhood.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Bring Fire Safety in vogue, stop devastation!

The figures of fire incidents in Kashmir alone are...

Unveiling the Shades of Electoral Bonds

The controversy surrounding Electoral Bonds has once again gripped...

Regulate Reused Cooking Oils

Sir, In commercial settings like restaurants, it’s common practice not...

Putting ‘Horse Blinders’ won’t work

The edict issued by the J&K Government directing its...