Relatively poor snowfall in Kashmir this year resulting in lesser ingress routes being blocked by snow has increased infiltration from across the line of Control (loC). In the first two months this year, as many as 25 heavily-armed militants sneaked into Kashmir. Not just that, they have also managed to evade arrest so far, causing a major concern for the security establishment. This is in sharp contrast to “almost nil” bids during the same period in 2015, when the region witnessed heavy snowfall.
Further, in these two months, security forces have killed 26 terrorists in the hinterland in South Kashmir alone compared to 55 of them killed during the entire 2015 in the State. Besides the snow factor, “heightened desperation” among terrorists to inflict maximum damage regardless of their own casualties is being attributed to the alarming increase in infiltration. Admitting that these new patterns were a matter of serious concern, officials said here on Saturday the summer months will be “hot” as the level of violence could well witness a spurt.
Explaining the reasons for the upsurge in infiltrations, sources said the higher reaches of south Kashmir, including Keran, Kupwara, Tangdhar and Uri, received lesser snow this winter in comparison to last year. This enabled the terrorists clad in winter clothing, including insulated combat fatigues and mountain boots, to infiltrate from across the loC, they said.
Infiltration in these sectors do not take place during winter months as most ingress routes are blocked by snow, they said, adding some of the mountain passes are above 13,000 to 14,000 feet high. Interestingly, loC in north Kashmir comprising Jammu division did not report any major infiltration bid in the last two months though it does not snow there, officials said.
However, January and February this year have seen at least four fierce encounters between the security forces and terrorists in Pulwama and Keran sectors. Four Army men died in the firefight, including two Captains of Special Forces, in an encounter in Pulwama in the first half of February. Two CRPF personnel were killed in the same incident when militants tried to ambush a bus ferrying CRPF personnel.
The militants then took refuge in Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Pampore, Pulwama and the encounter lasted for more than two days after security men managed to rescue more than 100 students studying there.
The tourism season in Kashmir Valley begins in April end while lakhs of devotees from all over the country come for pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra in Jammu during “navratras” in the first week of April.
Security forces, including the Army, the CRPF and local police in conjunction with the State administration, have thus started reviewing preparations to counter any threat to disrupt peace.
Against the backdrop of this unprecedented pattern wherein militants came in through the tougher snow-bound terrain in south Kashmir, officials said it clearly indicated that determined efforts were on to keep up the pressure. Maximum infiltrations and high numbers of terrorists killed in the first two months backed this assessment, they said. Moreover, most of the militants killed in the encounters in the hinterland were foreigners owing allegiance to laskhar-e-Tayyeba (leT).
Another alarming trend was protests by misguided locals against the security forces during and after the encounters in south Kashmir. Earlier, they used to take out rallies when a local militant was killed but now they are also protesting when a foreign militant was killed as was the case in the Pampore encounter.
Moreover, locals set up road blocks and indulge in stone pelting on security forces engaged in the encounter besides religious leaders raising slogans from places of worship hailing martyrdom of militants. Officials said this was done to trigger violence and retaliatory action by security forces leading to collateral damage.
Operational commanders have instructed their troops to exercise restraint in the face of such provocation and prevent the situation from escalating, officials said. Moreover, an advisory was also issued earlier this week warning trouble makers from trying to hamper anti-militancy operations and exploit sentiments of locals. After detection of cross-border tunnel in RS Pura sector on Jammu frontier, the BSF has now enhanced vigil on the International Border by stepping up foot patrols in the vulnerable pockets to prevent infiltration.
Terror strikes on Pathankot airbase in January this year besides attack on police posts in Punjab last year and Army installations in Kathua and Samba close to the International Border were targeted by the infiltrators after sneaking from there.
Following detection of terror tunnel, the Home Ministry had also ordered fresh audit of security to further strengthen security apparatus. The Army authorities are also revisiting standard operating procedures to effectively deal with the militant strikes.