Counter terror operation in Kashmir Valley is gaining momentum. According to reports, as many as 92 terrorists were killed till 2 July this year. This is against 79 in the corresponding period of 2016.Of the 92 terrorists killed till 2 July, most of the targets were big and prominent terror operatives.
Similarly, there is an increase in the number of terrorists killed in counter-insurgency operations during the BJP-led NDA rule at the Centre in comparison to the Congress-led UPA rule. While 72 and 67 terrorists were killed in anti-terror operations in Kashmir Valley during the UPA’s tenure of 2012 and 2013 respectively, the number rose to 110 in 2014, 108 in 2015 and 150 in 2016 during the NDA’s tenure.
Number of incidents of infiltration has also shown a marked decline. While 124 infiltration incidents have been reported till May-end this year, 371 incidents were reported in 2016.
Further, incidents of stone-pelting witnessed a dip. While 142 stone-pelting incidents have been reported till June this year, there were as many as 820 stone-pelting incidents in July last year alone following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
The improvement of the figures is largely to do with Indian Amry’s strategy to actively engage with the terrorists and other anti-India forces in a seamless coordination with para-military forces, intelligence agencies and state police with a full backing of the Central government.
“The forces have been given a free hand to track and intercept the terrorists holed up in the valley, before launching intelligence-based operations with due mapping of the target and how to neutralise terrorists with minimum collateral damage,” a senior Home Ministry official was quoted as saying.
The government has given a free hand to the Army to take stern actions against those who are spreading terror and vitiating the atmosphere in the Valley. The Army has launched Operation Clean Up to flush South Kashmir of terrorists. At the same time, the Army has been carrying out “punitive fire assaults” against Pakistani posts along the Line of Control (LoC).
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley had expressed satisfaction over the “aggressive domination” and “readiness” of the troops along the LoC in Jammu & Kashmir. “The aggressive domination and readiness of troops for befitting response to any misadventure by enemy is very satisfying,” Jaitley had said.
The intelligence agencies are simultaneously taking steps to choke terror funding in Kashmir. In a first, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided Kashmiri separatist leaders in connection to the funding they reportedly received from Pakistan to spread terror in the Valley. The amount received by the Kashmiri separatists from Pakistan in last one year, to keep the turmoil in Kashmir active, could run into several hundred crores. The funds are used for attacking security forces by carrying stone pelting, burning schools and other government buildings.
