Terrorist violence drops 40% in UT, but their Capital sees 21% surge
The overall terrorist violence in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has declined by 40 per cent as compared to last year, but capital Srinagar has emerged as a hotspot of terrorist violence with an increase in the number of terror incidents reported from the city.
Srinagar alone recorded terror-related 16 incidents, 21 per cent of a total of 75 incidents reported from across the Valley till so far this year. All the parameters of terrorist violence in Srinagar have surpassed those from the traditional hotbed of terrorism in Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian.
The findings are part of an internal assessment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a key stakeholder of anti-terrorist operations as also law and order roles in the Valley as well as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) accounting for terror incidents reported in the Valley till June this year.
“During the last over one month, five more terror incidents have been added to the list. Youths from the educated and affluent class residing in Srinagar joining the terror fold have further emerged as a major challenge for the security establishment in the Valley,” a senior CRPF official said.
According to the report, “Srinagar emerges as the hotspot of terrorists. Incidents (are) being driven by TRF.”
Srinagar has also reported the maximum security forces’ casualty in action this year. Of the 15 casualties reported across the valley this year, eight come from Srinagar.
Srinagar has recorded the presence of a maximum number of terrorists and recoveries of IEDs. The surge in violence in Srinagar is being driven by Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Tayabba (LeT)’s front — The Resistance Front (TRF).
Its commander Abbas Sheikh is listed as one of the top 10 terrorists in the latest hit list of Jammu and Kashmir police.
Sheikh has been frequently spotted in Srinagar. He has recruited militants and developed a strong network of hardcore OGWs (overground workers).
“Reflective of increasing violence, out of 75 terrorist incidents reported in the Valley this year, Srinagar accounts for the maximum number of incidents (16, 20%)which is significantly higher than its share in the previous years (2019-6%, 2020-5%). This year, however, a shift in focus is clearly discernible,” the report highlighted.
“Another worrying trend is the propensity of terrorists to use IEDs in Srinagar. Out of 8 IEDs recovered this year, 3 were recovered in Srinagar. There has also been an increase in the resident presence of terrorists in Srinagar. It is assessed that 8-10 terrorists are active in the district (Srinagar),” it said.