A Colonel, a Major, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police, lost their lives in an encounter with militants in Kokernag area of South Kashmir in a grim reminder that security challenges persist in Kashmir. The attack, claimed by the banned Resistance Front with alleged ties to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba, marks the second major assault on army personnel in the region within two months.
The loss of the lives of the senior security forces personnel is tragic. Colonel Manpreet Singh, the Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonack, and Deputy Superintendent Humayun Bhat, paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. DySP Bhat’s tragic loss leaves behind a grieving family, including a two-month-old daughter, a poignant reminder of the personal sacrifices made by them.
The incident casts a shadow over the region’s security situation, especially in South Kashmir. The recent attack in the Jammu region, which claimed the life of an Army personnel and a military dog, highlights the gravity of the security challenges across Jammu and Kashmir. The successive incidents serve as a stark reminder that the militant threat remains very real and cannot be taken lightly. The need for preparedness in the face of such threats cannot be overstated. The recurrence of such attacks in a short span is also deeply concerning and calls for a reevaluation of our counterterrorism strategies.
Over the past four years, the successive killings of militants by the security forces gave a sense that militancy may finally be on its way out in Kashmir. But the recent spurt in attacks and the violence tell a different story. It shows there has either been simultaneous replenishment of the depleted militant ranks through fresh recruitment or the influx of militants from across the border – a trend that has stayed constant over the past three decades. This is why while public unrest and stone-pelting have drastically diminished since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, militancy has continued unabated. And there is little sign that the situation on this score will change for the better anytime soon.
There is thus a critical need to reassess the situation and if possible to rethink the response. An iron-fist approach to quell the militancy may have appeared to have borne fruit. But its benefits are obviously now wearing out thin. Hence the need for reaching out to youth and engaging them politically. But it seems unlikely that the union government would be willing to change tack as of now. Here’s hoping that sooner or later it does.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
