The Government is unlikely to extend the ceasefire in Jammu & Kashmir beyond Eid given the security situation in the State with levels of violence increasing during the month-long halting of operations against terrorists.

Even on Thursday the situation was grim in the Valley when two unidentified ultras and an Army soldier were killed in a prolonged encounter in Panar forests of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Terrorists also kidnapped a soldier who was leaving for his native place in Poonch from south Kashmir to celebrate Eid with his family. Later in the evening, the abducted soldier’s body was found.

The decision to not extend the ceasefire has also been influenced by the fact that Amarnath yatra is commencing on June 28. The decision makers are not willing to take any chance of attacks on pilgrims or security forces.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reviewed the overall scenario in the State during Ramzan with top officials of his Ministry and Defence Ministry besides Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General and Jammu & Kashmir Police chief also took part in the one-hour meeting here.

The unilateral cessation of operations against ultras during Ramzan saw an increase in incidents of terrorism besides infiltration bids from across the Line of Control (LoC) as terrorists had the freedom of action and space. The security forces were ordered to suspend cordon and search operations (CASO) and seek and destroy operations (SADO) during the month-long ceasefire. The terrorist organisations like Hizbul Mujahideen, Laskhar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) did not reciprocate the gesture and unleashed a series of attacks, including grenade blasts, sources said here.

Defence sources said counter-terrorist operation was underway in Dardpora Panar forest area for the past five days following inputs about the presence of a large group of terrorists there.

The gunfight started after the Army cordoned off the area following a terrorist attack on an Army patrolling party. They said the terrorists fired upon the Army patrol moving through the Panar area.

During intense fighting, two unidentified terrorists were killed while a soldier sustained injuries. He was evacuated for medical aid but succumbed to his injuries. Two AK series rifles were recovered from the terrorists.

Sources added that the operation was underway to flush out the unknown number of ultras in the difficult dense forest area.

In another incident, terrorists kidnapped an Army jawan from Shopian area of south Kashmir and killed him.

Security sources said as per initial information the kidnapped soldier of 44 Rashtriya Rifles was posted as PSO with Major Shukla under whose command the counter terrorist operation was launched that killed senior Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Sameer Tiger in his native Drabgam village of Pulwama last month.

The Army and other security forces launched massive manhunt to trace the Army soldier whose body was found late on Thursday.

In another incident, unknown motorcycle-borne persons attacked one CRPF personnel with stone hitting his head and subsequently snatched his service rifle at Sadura near railway station in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday evening.

Against these backdrop, the Government is not willing to take chances during the forthcoming Amarnath yatra as the security forces, including the Army and paramilitary forces, have to sanitise the entire 400-km route.

Moreover, they have to adopt a pro-active approach to keep the terrorists on the run and deny them space to operate. If the ceasefire is extended beyond Eid, the security forces will find it difficult to maintain pressure on the terrorists thereby increasing the possibility of stand-off attacks and grenade blasts on convoys of pilgrims and security forces, they said.

The yatra will continue for two months and lakhs of devotees from all over the country undertake this pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine. Intelligence reports apprehend that the terrorists are also likely to resort to improvised explosive device (IED) blasts along the route. Given this threat, the security forces will have to launch round-the-clock road opening exercise to detect any IED before the convoys commence their journey.

While the Government may not announce resumption of anti-terror drive after Eid, the last one month has at least 46 terrorist-initiated incidents as compared to 55 for the entire period of January to May thereby indicating the ground situation. Also, the Army has gunned down 38 ultras (22 on LoC and rest in the hinterland) as against 56 killed during January-May. Besides, at least 20 grenade blasts took place in crowded places injuring 17 security personnel and more than 30 civilians. Moreover, 50 incidents of stone-pelting were reported from the restive South Kashmir.

As regards the security preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, the Army has already deployed two additional battalions (one battalion has 1,000 soldiers) on the two routes to the holy shrine. Moreover, the Government will deploy more than 200 additional companies (one company has 100 personnel) along the route and to provide security umbrella in a three-tier grid for ‘langars (community kitchens)’ and make-shift accommodation for the pilgrims. The additional troops will also secure all the hill tops for the duration of the yatra to prevent ultras from launching rockets from heights.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Friday, 15 June 2018 | PNS | New Delhi