Activities of militants, separatists a challenge: MHA Report
A report of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has noted that the stepped up militant activity along the line of control (LoC) and the cross border exchange of firing between Indian and Pakistani troops has deteriorated the security scenario and the activities of militants and separatists remains a challenge.
For the last two days government forces have foiled at least two infiltration bids along the LoC in frontier Kupwara area while the militant movement has intensified near the de-facto border between India and Pakistan. The stepped up militant activity has come at a time when the cross border firing has increased between Indian and Pakistani troops in Rajouri and Poonch sectors which has triggered evacuation of hundreds of families.
As per the report of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) there has been an increase in the incidents of infiltration in the state in last one year and the number of youth who have joined militancy has increased after the killing of HM militant commander, Burhan Muzafar Wani.
In the year 2010 the number of infiltration attempts, militants killed, pushed back, apprehended and those who sneaked in was 489, 112, 281, 1, 95 respectively. The number in 2011 stood at 247, 35, 159, 1 and 52. In 2012, it was 264, 13, 130, 0, and 121, in 2013 it was 277, 38, 142 , 0 and 97, 2014 was 222, 52 , 105, 0, and 65, 2015 was 121 , 46, 41, 1 and 33 respectively. The number was 371, 35, 217, 3 and 119 in 2016.
The report of the MHA also reveals that the “levels of violence in the hinterland are linked to the infiltration from across the border. The activities of separatist and militant outfits also remain a challenge in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. ‘’ The report adds that the number of youth who have joined militancy has also increased in last six years. The number of youth who joined militancy in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively is 54, 23, 21, 16 , 53, 66 and 88.
The MHA report further notes that a number of steps have been taken to wean away the people from joining militancy. “ Police have taken a number of initiatives for promoting youth engagement, which include organizing sports tournaments and cultural events,’’ notes the report. “ The state government is also organizing sports events and creating employment avenues including in their civil and police departments and initiatives like UDAAN, HIMAYAT have also been taken to explore avenues of employment in private sector for youths,’’ added the report.
In the past few days forces have at least foiled two incidents of infiltration. On Sunday 4 militants and 3 soldiers were killed as forces foiled an infiltration bid from across the border. Defence Spokesman, Rajesh Kalia, said “four weapons as well as war like stores were recovered after the infiltration attempt was foiled.’’
KV Correspondent
