Security forces are facing multiple challenges in Kashmir Valley as infiltration from across the line of Control (loC) and local protest are at an all-time high and armed militant commanders are openly making “hate speeches” during protest rallies.
Pakistan is following a two-pronged strategy of stepping up infiltration by sending in more militants and stoking unrest in towns of Kashmir Valley, said said officials in the security establishment. Faced with this situation and apprehending further spurt in violence levels in the run up to Independence Day, the Army and other agencies are intensifying operations along the loC to check infiltration and foil the militants’ attempt to regroup inside the State.
More than 55 infiltration bids have been made from January to July-end this year as compared to 30 odd last year in the corresponding period and coming days will see a hike in this phenomenon, said officials. The security forces managed to neutralise 94 terrorists on the loC and the hinterland as compared to 42 last year.
Admitting that all the parameters like infiltration and turmoil were at an all-time high, the officials said Pakistan Army and ISI are trying to infiltrate 200 to 300 terrorists. Till now, most of the terrorists have tried to sneak in from upper reaches like Tangdhar and Kupwara, sources said.
In fact, infiltration started this year in the last week of January unlike March-end in the previous years due to poor snowfall. Most ingress routes in Tangdhar and other adjoining areas are generally blocked by heavy snow during winter months and passes open up some time in mid-March,
they said.
The other worrying factor is that after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani more than a month back, youths are taking to streets in large numbers and resorting to violence in towns like Srinagar, Pulwama and other places in the Valley forcing the security forces to open fire. Most of these towns are under curfew since then.
Moreover, operational commanders are worried over the recent phenomenon of militants brandishing guns and making their presence felt by climbing on to podium making ‘hate speeches’ during protest rallies in South Kashmir districts.
During their public appearances these militant commanders, with their faces covered, openly asked gullible young men to wage war against the security establishment.
As angry protesters are expected to intensify their stir in the run up to the 70th Independence Day celebrations, the security forces may once again come under attack. Chairman of the United Jihad Council (UJC) Syed Salahuddin has already directed the militant outfits to target security installations.
As the number of protesters is swelling with every single day, controlling them and containing them pose a great challenge to the security forces on ground zero. Fatigue factor is also setting in as they are on the streets for more than month tackling violent crowds without any break.
Both the Central and State Governments are mulling the options of taking some stringent measures, including deployment of the Army in the worst-affected areas to restore law and order before situation takes ugly turn.
last week Northern Command chief lt General DS Hooda met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar along with lt Gen Satish Dua of Srinagar-based 15 corps and assured all possible assistance to the State Government to restore normalcy at the earliest.
People are so outraged that in many cases violent crowds, while protesting against the security forces, virtually forced them flee their locations after which protesters torched buildings and looted arms and ammunition.
The security forces have found themselves at the receiving end as they have been directed to exercise maximum restraint in the wake of outcry over use of pellet guns, the only non-lethal weapons provided to them for crowd control in adverse situations.
Officials said militants might also take advantage of ongoing curfew to regroup as operations against them have come down in the last one month. They generally shift their hiding positions on daily basis to escape the dragnet of security forces. The restriction on movement due to curfew has worked to their advantage, sources said.