Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has been affected by terrorist and secessionist violence, sponsored and supported from across the border, for more than three decades. The trends of terrorist violence in J&K during the last five years as per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) annual report for the year 2021-22 are shown in the table given below:
The ongoing militancy in Jammu and Kashmir is linked with infiltration of terrorists from across the border both from the “International Border” as well as the “Line of Control” in J&K. The reported infiltration attempts and Net infiltration in J&K since 2017 are indicated in the table below:-
The security situation in J&K is monitored and reviewed by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other security agencies. The Ministry of Home Affairs also monitors the security situation closely and continuously in tandem with the UT of J&K and the Ministry of Defence.
The report states that the Government of India in tandem with UT of J&K has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration, which, inter-alia, includes strengthening of the border infrastructure, multi-tiered deployment along international Border / Line of Control, and near the ever-changing infiltration routes, construction/ maintenance of border fencing construction of culverts/ bridges on nullahs, improved technology, weapons and equipment for Security Forces (SFs), improved intelligence and operational coordination, installation of border floodlight on the international border and synergizing intelligence flow to check infiltration and pro-active action against terrorists within J&K.
The Government has adopted various countermeasures to neutralize the efforts and capabilities of militants to disturb peace in J&K. The Government has also encouraged policies to mainstream the youth, including providing employment opportunities to wean them away from militancy.
The government has approved the raising of the following battalions for the Jammu & Kashmir Police:
(a) 5 IR Battalions
(b) 2 Border Battalions
(c) 2 Women Battalions
The recruitment had been completed for 5 IR Battalions. The recruitment process of 2 Border Battalions and 2 Women Battalions is going on.
To support the Government of J&K in its initiatives, the Central Government has been making available Central Armed Police Forces as and when necessary, and has been helping to strengthen the J&K Police as per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) annual report for the year 2021-22.
Terrorism Numbers Assessment by Commanders
Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the general officer commanding-in-chief of the Northern Command said in an interview with the ANI that there were around 300 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir at this time, with 160 waiting for an opportunity to cross the LoC and sneak into India.
82 foreign terrorists and 53 local terrorists were operating in J&K and 170 unidentified terrorists (hybrid) listed with the army.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DPG), Dilbag Singh on November 20 said that the number of local terrorists active in Kashmir has been brought down to double digits while a “miniscule number of foreign terrorists were active who are being tracked down.”
“As far as the status of militancy is concerned, the number of active local terrorists has been brought to just two digits. Very less foreign militants are active as of now,” DGP Singh told reporters on the side lines of his visit to north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, as reported by news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
“We have largely succeeded in facing this challenge and this year so far, over 100 modules of Hybrid terrorists were busted across J&K,” the DGP said.
[MHA Report Extracted by Harshita Singh Panwar]