Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed to launch synergised unrelenting operations to eliminate 35-40 terrorists, operating in Jammu region, before the onset of summer thus taking a significant step towards achieving the goal of “terror free J&K.”
“To meet this objective, searches at a massive scale have been launched after January 26, in consonance with unambiguous MHA directives to purge persisting terror threats in the Jammu region before summer sets in,” official sources pointed out, while explaining the rationale behind massive security exercise presently underway, spanning eight districts of Jammu region.
“Though our synergised operations have been consistent with a clear strategy to not to provide any breather to terrorists and their support system yet following peaceful conduct of national festival, they (search operations) have been further intensified to hunt down hiding terrorists before snow melts. This is also crucial in the wake of ensuing important developments, which necessitate additional layers of security to ensure a terror-free scenario and meet potential threats,” they stated.
Reference was to studied patterns adopted by terrorists, presumably hiding in dense forests in higher reaches of Jammu districts, which in the past couple of years witnessed spate of terror acts.
Notably, the train to Kashmir is also likely to become operational in the first week of next month following completion of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project and successful trial run of Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Budgam, adding to security responsibilities.
“When snow melts, surge in terror attacks is a usual pattern. In the (Kashmir) valley, this has been effectively contained to a significant level. However, a new pattern has emerged after 2021 that they (terrorists) have expanded their bases in hitherto peaceful districts of the region, mostly striking during summer months. However, in 2024, Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Doda and Kishtwar districts saw an upsurge in terror violence,” sources said.
“Though security forces achieved successes in eliminating some of them, it is presumed that 30-40 terrorists are holed up in the higher reaches of different districts of Jammu region, waiting to strike as the weather opens up. Keeping in view those patterns, we want to seize any of those advantages or initiatives. There is a clear direction from the MHA to eliminate these terrorists operating in the Jammu region before the onset of summer,” they added.
Notably, earlier on December 19, 2024, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah while chairing a high-level security review meeting (first after formation of elected government following assembly elections) on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi, had issued similar instructions.
“In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s zero tolerance policy against terrorism, we will achieve the goal of ‘terror-free Jammu and Kashmir’ at the earliest and all resources will be made available for this. The Modi government, with the joint efforts of all security forces, is committed to establish complete dominance over terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah had stated.
Appreciating efforts of the security agencies for a significant decline in terrorist incidents, infiltration and recruitment of youth in terrorist organizations, he said that due to the sustained and coordinated efforts of the Modi government, the eco-system of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir had almost ended.
“Yet all security agencies need to continue working in a coordinated manner to eliminate terrorism in J&K,” the Home Minister had directed while emphasising on the “implementation of area domination plan and zero terror plan in mission mode.”
Shah’s security review meeting was followed by the visit of Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to Kashmir in December end to assess the security situation, both in hinterland and along the Line of Control in J&K.
Lauding multi-pronged well-synergised strategies of security forces, he too had asked them (forces) to intensify anti-terror operations to meet the avowed objective.
