Terrorist’s gun still hovers over innocents!

In yet another targeted killing in Kashmir, terrorists fired upon a Hindu worker in a clear act of targeted killing. The deceased was identified as Deepu, a resident of Udhampur who worked at a private circus mela conducting shows near Janglat Mandi. Deepak was the lone bread earner for his family already in distress.
His old father is invalid and his brother is visually impaired and his wife is pregnant.
There was apprehension of terror misadventure during the preparatory period and during the G 20 summit to derail the historic event in Kashmir. The Administration, Security forces and the civil society heaved a sigh of relief when the entire G20 event passed off peacefully.
But something more sinister was brewing in the terrorists' frustration: targeted killings. Yes, the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits, Hindus, and non-locals working in Kashmir, both Hindus and Muslims, have brought back memories of the horrors of the militancy era which seems is not yet over. Many people are still terrified and living under the shadow of death.
The latest incident and earlier killings of the minority community and their plight can be seen in the eyes of those who remain, uncertain and gripped with anxiety: could they be the next target?
The security forces are grappling with the challenges of hybrid terror, in which untrained amateur terrorists have carried out these attacks, giving Pakistan-based terror outfits complete deniability. At the same time, the central government finds itself in a bind following the high-pitched narrative of normalcy returning to Kashmir following the repeal of Article 370. The move was intended to improve administration of the region under central government control.
To keep the pot boiling, security officials blame terror groups like Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoots for the attacks.
The government has always been on high alert to demonstrate that things are beginning to normalise in Kashmir. Even if they are, it should be communicated and dealt with tactfully. It's been a troubled region for decades and a message of victory and normalisation as a trophy could spark even more unrest with targeted killings like these. Normalisation should not be viewed as a destination, but rather as a process. As we've seen, things can be perfectly normal one day and then get derailed by a single spark the next.
Even after three years, the situation has not improved significantly. So, yes, if stone pelting has stopped and local recruitment in terror ranks has decreased, these are unquestionably signs of success, but masking the long-term ills of these targeted killings and their impact on the ground will not help address the problem. The terrorist's gun is not silent yet.