Nov 20, 2010

Militancy: Continued Tempo

Meanwhile the militancy space continued to see a number of attempts at infiltration and sporadic encounters.  In some of the major encounters in the Valley, on  14 October, three militants were killed in south Kashmir in Keller village of Shopian district. On 16 October two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in a gunfight with a joint army and police team in Rajouri area. On 17 October two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in a fierce encounter with the security forces in Budhal area again in Rajouri district.

On 21 October, two militants of Jaish-e- Mohammad (JEM) were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Malroo on the outskirts of Srinagar city.  The encounter was led by 2 Rashtriya Rifles which cordoned off Malroo. This was the first encounter in Srinagar city since 6 January.  On 23 October three terrorists from across the border were killed in a gun battle with the army in Baramulla district. "Three infiltrating terrorists have been killed so far in Uri sector of the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla," Lieutenant Colonel J S Brar, spokesman of the army's Srinagar-based 15 Corps, said.

42 terror camps, including new ones in Pak-occupied Kashmir, are being run, Army Chief Gen V K Singh disclosed to the media. "Currently, 42 terrorist training camps are located in Pakistan/PoK. Inputs reveal that some new camps have also been established in PoK for undertaking terrorist training," he said. "It is assessed that Pakistan will continue to foster terrorism against India and the terrorist infrastructure is likely to remain intact in the foreseeable future," he said. "Launch pads are used extensively for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir and are located all along the Line of Control and parts of International Border," he said, adding "As on date, approximately 600 terrorists are located in the launch pads, poised for infiltration in the near future." Infiltration has also reportedly gone up with 10 incidents being recorded in June, six in July and 33 in August which also witnessed a peak in stone pelting in the Valley. Gen Singh also indicated that 20-25 infiltration attempts had succeeded, given that 12 to 15 terrorists were killed in Valley.

The high level of encounters in September was evident with 42 militants killed in counter-infiltration and counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir Valley in September. "As many as 42 well-armed and trained, both local and foreign militants, have been eliminated in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations conducted by the Army in September," Army spokesman said. "Vigilant troops along the LOC (Line of Control) have intercepted, engaged and eliminated 16 militants and while conducting joint operations with the Special Operations group of state police in the hinterland, 26 militants were killed," he added.

The Army’s counter infiltration strategy comprises of, “dynamic troop deployment, pro-active use of surveillance and monitoring devices and the anti-infiltration obstacle system”. Cease Fire violations have been in specific areas indicating an interest in exploiting weaknesses as well as supporting infiltration.  

Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief Kuldeep Khoda highlighted on 21 October that 76 personnel of the security forces, including 49 policemen, have died over the past 12 months in the state. "In the state, 76 officers and jawans have died this year, including 49 from J&K Police, 14 from CRPF and 13 from BSF." [Hindustan Times Report 22 October 2010].

On the human rights front, over 100 Army men including 48 officers have faced punitive action in cases related to human right violations in Jammu and Kashmir over the last two decades as per Army sources. "As many as 1,514 FIRs have been registered against Army personnel for alleged human rights violations in the last 20 years of militancy", Brigadier General Staff (BGS), Northern Command, Sanjay Verma indicated.  1,508 cases have been investigated with probe continuing in remaining six cases. "As many as 1,473 complaints - nearly 97 per cent of the cases-- were found false and baseless," Verma said. However, 35 cases (2.3 per cent of total cases) were found true with 104 Army men including 48 officers have been punished for human rights violations in J&K. "Our accountability is very strong. Our investigation and punishment in cases related to alleged human rights violations is very fast," the brigadier said, underscoring that there "is no room for mistakes. [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/1-514-firs-against-army-personnel-in-jk-97-pct-cases-false/700143/. ]

NOV 2010

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