Srinagar, the summer Capital of Jammu & Kashmir, witnessed highest number of deaths in incidents of terrorist violence in 2021. Compared to the previous year the local recruitment witnessed a marginal decline while large number of “Hybrid” terrorists were inducted in the ranks of new terror outfits to target the security personnel in 'cold blood'.
Overall, around 20 Pakistani and approximately 160 local terrorists were gunned down by the joint team of security forces since January 1 in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba followed by Jaish-e-Mohammad and pro Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist outfits suffered maximum damages during anti terrorist operations.
During these operations around 35 security personnel and 40 civilians also sacrificed their lives.
Majority of local terrorists killed in the anti terrroist operations were aged between 20-25 and had a shelf life ranging between three days to 1 year. The security forces also broke down the backbone of the terrorist outfits by arresting around 600 over ground workers during crackdown.
During the year Srinagar figured in the list of UNESCO's Network of creative cities and 'peacefully' hosted numerous events which were attended by Parliamentarians, Union Ministers and foreign dignitaries but during the last quarter the capital city witnessed sudden surge in incidents of terrorist violence. In most of the incidents the terrorist handlers deployed 'hybrid' terrorists to target the security personnel and civilians.
According to police records, around 11 policemen, nine civilians and 20 terrorists were killed in a series of gunfights and targeted killings during the year. It included killing the son of a local dhaba owner, a jeweler, two school teachers from minority communities, kashmiri pandit pharmacist and outsiders from Bihar.
Out of 128 local terrorists recruited this year, as per police records, as many as 73 were killed, 16 were arrested and 39 were still active.
Security assessment made by the various agencies claimed arlound 200 terrorists were still active in the region .Out of these around 110 are local and around 90 are foreign terrorists.
Majority of these anti terrorist operations were conducted across South Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Kulgam,Shopian and Anantnag. The highest number of 51 terrorists were eliminated in the last three months following sudden surge in incidents of terrorist violence and targeted killings of civilians and others.
Last year, a total number of 203 terrorists including 166 local and 37 foreign terrorists were gunned down by the security forces while 43 civilians were killed and 92 others injured in the union
territory.
In 2019, 152 terrorists, including 120 locals and 32 of Pakistan-origin were killed by the security forces in J&K. In 2018, 215 terrorists were neutralized by security forces.