The killing of a police man and a migrant labour and injuring of another police officer within a mere 72 hours have created a sense of de javu: Just when we thought that militancy is on its way out, the killings have come as a reminder that it may still be premature to write its epitaph.
The Head Constable Ghulam Mohammad Dar, killed on Tuesday in Baramulla was just one of the police personnel who face the constant threat in the line of duty. Earlier, militants shot at and critically injured Inspector Masroor Ahmad Wani, who was playing cricket. A migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh, Mukesh, was gunned down in Pulwama. It is a stark and painful realization that the situation in Kashmir remains volatile, despite the relative calm in recent times.
The increase in attacks is particularly concerning given that the number of militants operating in the region has dwindled to around 100, marking the first time this has happened since 2015 when the Burhan Wani insurgency revitalized a declining militancy. Also, since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy in August 2019, around 550 militants, most of them local youth, have been killed by security forces. While this has managed to reduce the number of active militants, it has not curtailed the persistence of violence. The militants seem to have adopted a new strategy, opting to target civilians, panchayat workers, J&K police personnel visiting their homes. This has forced security forces to assume a broader role, not only combating militancy but also safeguarding a significant portion of the population, including their own personnel.
Despite these renewed attacks, the broader situation in the Union Territory hasn’t witnessed a significant setback to the gradual return of normalcy. Tourism, for instance, has been on the rise, with last year attracting over one crore visitors and this year set to beat the record of the last year. The majority of hotels are reportedly booked well in advance for the upcoming winter season, indicating that tourism is set to continue thriving.
However, it is imperative that the security situation does not deteriorate further. The weeks and months ahead will be critical in determining the evolving security landscape in the Valley. Historically, the winter season has been less volatile. But influx of more militants from across the border could significantly alter the ground situation in Kashmir for the worse. In the face of these challenges, the security agencies will need to be on the alert. However, addressing the militancy will need both a security and a political approach. While the security personnel have been doing their best to maintain peace, it is for the governments, both at the centre and in the UT, to apply a political balm.
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