The spate of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Jammu region, has put a question mark on the status of the scheduled assembly elections in the Union Territory.
A Union government functionary told CNN-News18 that although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has reiterated its commitment to sticking to the September 30 deadline set by the Supreme Court, the recent spate of attacks is leading to renewed discussions about the impending assembly elections. “We have to see if the elections can be held immediately. Every candidate has to be given the correct security atmosphere to campaign. Every voter must feel secure," the source said.
The concern is especially in Hindu-dominated areas of Jammu, which saw attacks over last month.
As per the Union Home Ministry data, 26 terror incidents have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024, 10 of which are in Jammu division alone. Data suggests that nine security force personnel were martyred and 20 injured, while 28 terrorists killed this year.
RECENT TERROR INCIDENTS
In the past one month, Jammu division has seen at least seven incidents of terrorism.
- On July 8, five army personnel were killed and six injured after terrorists attacked a convoy in Machedi, Kathua. As per officials, a grenade was lobbed at the convoy during a ‘routine patrol’ on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road around 150 km from Kathua. Firing followed the grenade attack. It is suspected that terrorists fled into the adjoining forests. This is was the second attack in Kathua in three weeks.
- On June 11, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was killed after an encounter in Hiranagar Saida village. Two terrorists were gunned down in the operations.
- On the same night, a joint naka of police and security forces was attacked, injuring five soldiers and an SPO in Doda. Police claimed that three terrorists allegedly involved in the Doda attack were gunned down in an operation on June 26.
- On June 9, as PM Modi’s Council of Ministers was being sworn in, a Katra-bound pilgrim bus was attacked in Reasi, killing nine.
- In May, one air force personnel was killed in an attack.
RECALIBRATION OF DEPLOYMENT
The common thread in all attacks has been guerrilla warfare techniques. In April 2023, an Indian Army vehicle was attacked in Poonch, killing five. The strategy was repeated in May this year, when an Indian Air Force (IAF) truck was ambushed, killing one IAF personnel. Like the Kathua attack, in both these cases, too, terrorists fled into the adjoining jungles, as per officials.
Badnota village, where the latest attack was reported, is around 150 kilometres from Kathua town. It falls between Machedi and Lohai Malhar. Machedi was a ‘hot bed’ of terrorism in the mid-1990s, but subsequent peace saw security bases withdrawing from the area.
Defence analysts believe that Pakistan-based terror groups are taking advantage of the fact that India redeployed its troops in Jammu region, after the Galwan attack necessitated more forces in Ladakh.
A top Union Government functionary told CNN-News18 that 6,000 additional troops and at least 37 Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) were rushed in the last fortnight after the spate of attacks in Kathua, Doda, Reasi.
“A hot chase is on. We believe the terrorists fled towards Udhampur. More deployment is being done," the Union government functionary said.
The CRPF, as per sources, is also deploying jungle warfare trained personnel in the area.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has arrested at least one On-Ground Worker (OGW) in the Reasi case, is investigating how the terrorists are mapping their escape routes through the dense forests in the area.
THE HANDLER
It is suspected that the terror group currently active in Jammu is being handled by Lashkar-e-Toiba’s (LeT) Sajid Jatt. Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt has been named by the NIA in its charge sheet for terror conspiracy in Rajouri Poonch area. He is believed to be from the Shangamanga village in Kasur district of Pakistan’s Punjab. The NIA has announced a Rs 10-lakh reward on Jatt.
Agencies suspect Jatt has trained and ‘launched’ a group of 20 terrorists operating in groups of three-four. They have managed to identify natural caves in the forests of Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua and are managing to slip through the forests after every attack.
Congress leader Lal Singh alleged that villagers had reported citing non-locals in Kathua area. “Villagers reported that boys who were not locals came asking for provisions and to recharge their phones. But the input was either not taken seriously or the police didn’t do enough," he said.
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