Azhar Qadri

The weapon-starved militants in the Kashmir valley appear to be increasingly targeting residences of protected politicians in search of rifles to arm a steady flow of recruits.

In the past four years, despite a stringent check on infiltration of men and weapons, the militants have looted more than 200 rifles from security forces personnel in the region.

The search for weapons to arm a steady flow of recruits has forced militants to carry out hit-and-run attacks against security forces personnel and also storm isolated police posts and residences of protected politicians.

In 2018, the militants stormed the residences of at least four politicians, one each in south Kashmir’s Kulgam and Pulwama districts and two in the heart of the region in Srinagar city, while several other such attempts were foiled by the police.

In the latest incident on Sunday, militants looted four AK-series assault rifles from the official residence of Congress legislative councillor Muzafar Parray at the heavily guarded Jawahar Nagar locality in the city. The attack took the number of rifles looted by militants to 54 in the year.

It was also the second such weapons’ heist in Jawahar Nagar, where a special police officer had looted seven AK-series rifles in September from the official residence of then PDP legislator Aijaz Mir.

Additional Director General of Police, Security and Law and Order, Munir Khan told The Tribune that there was an increased need for on-duty policemen to follow the procedures that are in place. “We already have the standard operating procedures in place. The need is to follow them strictly,” Khan said.

Khan described it as “worrisome and alarming” that militants were resorting and succeeding in looting weapons from security forces personnel. “It is definitely worrisome and alarming that our weapons will be used anti-national elements,” he said.

The militants began a concerted effort to loot weapons from the residences of protected politicians, police posts and security forces personnel on routine duties since early 2015.

The snatchings picked pace as the increased vigil and upgraded security along the Line of Control starved Kashmir’s insurgency of a free flow of weapons.

The earliest incidents of weapon snatching took place in Pulwama and Shopian districts of south Kashmir in May 2012 when militants overpowered policemen guarding two villages, inhabited by minority communities, and escaped with six rifles, eight magazines and a communication device.

The biggest loot took place in July 2016 — days after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani — when protesters attacked the DH Pora police station in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district and stole 23 assault and self-loading rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

In September and October 2016, months after Wani’s killing threw the security grid into chaos in south Kashmir and his successor Zakir Musa called for snatching of weapons, militants stormed the residences of at least six politicians where they looted 19 rifles and also stormed police posts where they looted 12 rifles.

In the three years between 2015 and 2017, 159 weapons were looted from the residences of politicians, security installations and personnel. The police have responded with a series of counter-measures, including a revised advisory to security personnel.

Over 200 rifles stolen in 4 years 

• In the past four years, despite a stringent check on infiltration of men and weapons, the militants have looted more than 200 rifles from security forces personnel in the region.
• The biggest loot took place in July 2016 —- days after the killing of militant Burhan Wani – when protesters attacked a police station in Kulgam and stole 23 rifles.

.

Courtesy:The Tribune,Jan03,2019