After 18 years, terrorism is back in Poonch and Rajouri. The first big attack on the army happened in the Surankote forests in October 2021. Now, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, even busy marketplaces are in danger. The mountains near the border are a thick forest where the terrorist hides which makes it difficult to find the Pakistani terrorists.
The army has increased its security, but searching for them in these dense forests is tough. The situation in the Pir Panjal region has worsened since the removal of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Recent attacks, including one on pilgrims in Reasi, have led to a strong response from the Central government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked security forces to use all their anti-terror skills and Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting to tackle the issue. Security measures have been taken against the terrorist attack.
On the ground, the focus is on protecting the Hindu community in Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley. Terrorists are targeting these areas and trying to recreate the violence of the 1990s. The police say terrorists want to destabilize the region again.
RR Swain, the police chief of Jammu and Kashmir, said that from 1995 to 2005, terrorists tried to create chaos in Jammu, Rajouri, Doda, and Kishtwar. With the help of local people, security forces defeated them. Now, the enemy is posing a similar challenge, but Swain is confident they will defeat them again.
The police have strengthened the Village Defence Guards (VDGs), who are the local trained residents and armed by the government. There are about 28,000 VDGs in Doda, Poonch, and Rajouri, mostly from the Hindu community. The police are telling them to stay alert and report any suspicious activity.
In 2003, a joint operation by the army and police, with strong local support, eliminated militancy. But since 2021, terrorism has returned, starting in Poonch and Rajouri and spreading to Doda.
Former police officer Sayed Ahfadul Mujtaba, who helped eliminate terrorism in Rajouri in 2003, said the local population’s support is crucial. If more people support the government, it’s easier to fight terrorism.
Since October 2021, 39 soldiers and 20 civilians have been killed in the region. At least three to four terrorist groups are operating in Poonch and Rajouri and about the same number in Doda.
In November, the army said 25-30 Pakistani terrorists were operating in Poonch and Rajouri. They are well-trained in jungle warfare and have advanced weapons, including US-made M4 carbines and armour-piercing bullets. They also use a micro-satellite communication system, which is hard to intercept.
In November, terrorists attacked Special Forces. The army killed two terrorists involved in the attack, but five Special Forces members died, including Hawaldar Abdul Majid. His family is proud of his sacrifice but worried about repeated entrance despite border fencing and many troops.
Officials say these attacks on armed forces and civilians aim to heat the situation and create communal tension. Cross-border drug trafficking has also become a serious challenge and contributes to terrorism. This issue could be more complicated than it seems.
-Prisha Jaiswal