Despite tall claims by the Central government of having successfully checked militancy after the abrogation of Article 370 and imposition of Central rule via creation of two Union territories, the fact remains that militancy related activities spread to six other districts in the otherwise peaceful Jammu region this year, killing 44 persons, including 18 security personnel and 13 terrorists.
According to data, though the PirPanjal districts of Rajouri and Poonch witnessed a drop in terror activities in 2024 compared to the previous years, the series of incidents in Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur and Jammu from April-May onwards, which should be a cause for concern for the security agencies.
To counter the threat and thwart the attempts of Pakistan-based handlers to spread terror in the peaceful areas, officials said the Army in close synergy with the police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have launched relentless operations in the vulnerable regions, especially in the dense forests.
As per official data, Doda, Kathua and Reasi districts recorded nine killings each this year followed by Kishtwar (five), Udhampur (four), Jammu and Rajouri (three each), and Poonch (two).
The deceased included 18 security personnel and 13 terrorists, the officials said, adding that among the 14 civilians killed by the terrorists, seven were pilgrims returning from the Shiv Khouri temple while three were Village Defence Guards (VDGs).
While the pilgrims were killed in an attack on their bus which also claimed the life of the local driver and conductor, the VDGs were shot in Udhampur and Kishtwar districts.
Seven security personnel lost their lives in terror incidents this year in Kathua, five in Doda, three in Kishtwar, two in Poonch and one in Udhampur, the officials said, adding that three terrorists were killed in a two-day long operation in Akhnoor sector of Jammu region in October, four in separate encounters in Doda, two each in Kathua, Udhampur and Rajouri.
The Rajouri-Poonch belt, which like other parts of Jammu region were almost cleared of terrorism over a decade ago, witnessed deadly terror attacks mostly targeting Army vehicles since October 2021, resulting in the death of more than 100 persons, including 47 security personnel and 48 terrorists, besides seven civilians.
Rajouri accounted for 19 deaths in 2021, 14 in 2022 and 28 in 2023. Likewise, Poonch recorded 15 deaths in 2021, four in 2022 and 24 in 2023.
