Jammu:The killing of Burhan Wani, young charismatic militant commander of Hizbul Mujahidin on July 8 last year not only triggered a mass uprising in Kashmir but also emboldened militants to launch some daredevil attacks on security forces. As per official figures, at least 81 security force personnel from army and other security agencies were killed in militant attacks in 2016. Not only that militants also managed to snatch as many as 66 weapons from security forces following the death of Burhan, an unprecedented trend seen with alarm by the security agencies.
Releasing the figures an official spokesman said on Wednesday that as many as 66 weapons, including 17 AK rifles, and over 7,000 rounds of ammunition have been snatched by militants from government forces in Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander on July 8.
Sixteen such incidents had taken place last year.
As per the figures of the state Home Ministry, 66 weapons–17 AK rifles, 23 SLR rifles, 14 INSAS rifles, 6 pistols, one .303 rifle, one carbine, 3 UBGL thrower and one Taser gun–were looted by militants and other suspects who attacked police stations and cops.
Similarly, they looted and snatched 196 magazines of various types of weapons during the period, it said.
As many as 7,012 rounds of ammunition was also looted in these incidents, the data said, adding, four BP headgears were also looted.
The snatching incidents started soon after Burhan’s killing, when people attacked police station Damhal Hanjipora in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on July 11 and potential militants looted 39 rifles including 21 INSAS rifles, 12 SLRs, One LMG and 2 AK rifles.
On October 16 night, militants decamped with five rifles from policemen guarding a broadcast tower in Davlach village in Dooru-Shahabad area of this South Kashmir district.
The militants managed their entry into a room at Lower Power Transmitter Station of public service broadcaster Doordarshan in Davlash village where weapons were kept and escaped with the weapons, including 3 SLRs, one INSAS and a Carbine without any resistance.
Earlier on October 8, militants snatched two service rifles from a minority police post in Tumlihal-Lassipora in Pulwama district.
A day prior to that militants stormed a police post in Jamnagri village of Shopian. In the fire fight, one cop was killed. Militants later snatched their weapons.
On October 3, militants disarmed policemen guarding a minority picket in Kulgam district and ran away with five automatic rifles.
On September 28, they decamped with service rifle of guards of former NC MLA in Shopian.
Prior to that, militants, on the night of September 18, decamped with four service rifles from security guards of ruling Peoples Democratic Party district president, Advocate Javed Sheikh.
Four rifles were also snatched from policemen guarding the house of a former National Conference leader in Begam village in Pombia area of Kulgam district on the evening of September 8.
On September 5, a Communist leaders house in Kulgam was attacked and a rifle snatched from the police personnel on duty.
On August 31, militants sneaked into protesters who attacked PDP leader and Rajya Sabha member Nazir Ahmad Laways house in Chawalgam village of Kulgam district and ran away with four rifles.
In a bid to snatch rifles, militants attacked a Police Picket guarding minority families at Sirnoo village of Pulwama.
As per the CID report, as many 59 youth in South Kashmir have joined militant ranks after Wanis killing.
“Rifle snatching incidents witnessed recently in the valley, particularly in south Kashmir, is a cause of concern, said Srinagar-based Army Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua at a function.
Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Rashid Bhat, who was close to Burhan Wani, in a recent video message has said that several youth have snatched weapons from security forces and have joined the Hizb ranks.
“Anyone who wants to join us, he should snatch a weapon and join us. We welcome them all wholeheartedly, said Zakir, a former engineering student of Chandigarh, in the video.
Police feels his vedio message will further incite and encourage youth to snatch and loot weapons from police and other forces in Kashmir in days to come.
Former Army officer Brig (retd) Anil Gupta said the security agencies have to stop this, otherwise the number of the armed militants in Kashmir will increase.
It bears mention in 2016, state witnessed 216 militancy-related incidents in which 150 militants and 81 security personnel were killed keeping the ratio of casualties on both sides at the ratio of almost 2:1 highest for security forces in recent years.
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