Holy month of Ramzan witnessed sudden spike in militant related violence across Jammu & Kashmir after a gap of more than three years.
Coupled with this efforts were also made by the militant handlers from across the border to trigger communal tension in Jammu province as three incidents of temple desecration were reported during the holy month of Ramzan. Two incidents were reported in Jammu and one incident took place in the border district of Poonch near the line of control.
According to official sources, “between June 6 to July 6 this year ver one dozen major incidents of militant related violence in the hinterland and firefight with security forces along the line of control were reported in the state in which over two dozen militants were killed/neutralised and 10 security personnel sacrificed their lives”.Over three dozen personnel were injured in fresh encounters with the militants. In 2015 total number of 20 militants were killed in June and July while 4 security personnel lost their lives. In 2014 15 militants were eliminated between June and July and 6 security personnel were killed.
Eight security personnel of CRPF were martyred by armed fidayeen group on the highway stretch between Bijbehera and Pampore on June 25.
Twenty-two CRPF jawans were also injured in the attack which forced the Union Home Ministry to further review the prevailing security scenario in the state along with redefining the existing Standard Operating Procedures to prevent fresh strike on the convoy movement of security personnel. Security along the 35 km stretch of the National Highway 44 between Bijbehera and Pampore has also been beefed up and area domination patrols of CRPF and army keeping a tight vigil on the vulnerable highway.
To check the movement of infiltrators along the North Kashmir district of Kupwara alert Army jawans were able to neutralise at least 14 infiltrators in four separate firefights on June 15, June 16, and June 23.
Six militants were eliminated by the security forces in separate encounters in Sopore, Pulwama, Handwara and Kupwara. The Jammu Srinagar Highway also witnessed militant strike near Kud on June 13 in which one civilian also lost her life while 4 others were injured.
During the recent security review meetings chaired by the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Srinagar clear instructions were given to security officers to effectively deal with the regrouping of militants and check radicalisation of local youth in the absence of foreign militants in the State. According to these assessments over 220 militants were actively involved in the State.