With just four days to go for Eid, the Government has to take a call on whether or not to extend the ceasefire in Jammu & Kashmir. The ground situation is far from encouraging for the policy-makers as infiltration has increased in a big way. The Army has gunned down 36 infiltrators (22 on line of Control and 14 in the hinterland) after the cessation of anti-terrorist operations. In comparison, only 56 of them were killed from January till May this year.
Moreover, in the last three weeks since halting of operations for a month on May 17, terrorists carried out 42 incidents whereas from January to May this figure was just 55. Security officials here suspect that the ultras are trying to take advantage of the “cessation of operation,” as they are able to move freely. The Army is looking out for a lashkar-e-Tayyebba group of six to seven terrorists that infiltrated into the Valley. It is feared this group of well-trained terrorists may strike in a big way in the next few days.
On Monday when J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was asked about the possibility of the Centre extending the unilateral suspension of operations beyond Ramzan, she evaded a direct reply saying the Prime Minister and the Home Minister will review the situation and take a decision on it.
A silver lining for the police has been the fact that three more youths recently shunned the path of terrorism in Kashmir. A total of 10 armed ultras have shunned the path of violence to return home in the past few months.
Explaining the reason for escalation in levels of violence and infiltration bids, officials said here while India and Pakistan agreed last week to maintain ceasefire on the loC, Pakistan has not reined in terrorists now desperately trying to infiltrate into Kashmir.
Officials admitted that the killing of 22 infiltrators was “alarming” as nearly the same number or more may have managed to escape the anti-infiltration dragnet and sneaked into North Kashmir. Before the anti-terrorist operations ceased, nearly 30 ultras had infiltrated in the period of January to May. Suspecting that nearly 30 more may have come in the last fortnight, officials said these ultras can move freely inside the State and strike at will.
Elaborating upon this aspect, they said since internal ceasefire, the security forces have curtailed cordon and search operations (CASO) and Search and Destroy Operations (SADO) thereby allowing the terrorists freedom of space and action. Curb on pro-active approach against the ultras has also provided terrorists with a month long breather to regroup and rearm themselves, officials said.
Coupled with these facts, terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has unleashed a series of grenade blasts with as many as 19 such incidents in the last 15 days. These blasts in crowded places left at least 46 injured including 29 civilians and 17 security personnel. Also, 50 incidents of stone-pelting were reported from restive South Kashmir. Terrorists also carried out two stand-off attacks at two Army camps killing one soldier. Stand-off attacks mean ultras fire a grenade or volley of bullets from a distance. A police post was also attacked killing two personnel.
In the backdrop of the prevailing security situation, successful conduct of the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra commencing June 28 has come under a shadow. Officials fear the terrorists will try to lob grenades on convoys of pilgrims and security personnel besides exploding improvised explosive devices (IED) on the yatra route. The annual pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Amarnath will last for about 60 days with pilgrims covering a distance of nearly 380 kms. Incidentally, an IED was blasted only last week targeting an Army vehicle in North Kashmir. However, all the occupants escaped with minor injuries.