Arun Joshi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was categorial in telling the Parliament that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in last stage and a decisive battle has been launched it to finish it off once and for all. This is indicative of two things – one that terrorism, despite its decimation to a large extent continues to pose a threat to peace in strategically sensitive union territory of J&K. Second, it is declaration of the intent to fight terrorism to finish.
The J&K police, headed by Director General of Police Rashmi Ranjan Swain, son of the soil of Odisha, has deciphered the elements operating and cooperating as terrorism syndicate in Jammu and Kashmir. He has taken both human and other angles, like the porous borders and subversives working for their own agenda.
Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir unleashed many phases which started in late 1989 and peaked during 1990s when massacres, selective killings and daily gunbattles were fought in lanes and by-lanes before it suffered a dent post 9/11 when a phase arrived when the cult of fidayeen attacks started with terrorists attacking army camps, cantonments . The intention was to showcase the vulnerability of the security forces and deliver a stunning message to the Indian nation and the people of Kashmir, in particular, that when soldiers are not safe in their own cantonments, how could they protect civilian population . Thereafter, with the start of 2008 came the street protests, stone throwing and violent clashes, which left people dead and maimed. These street protests were more damning and dangerous as this made the local youth to enroll themselves in the militant ranks. The funeral processions of militants were sort of recruitment rallies. The consequences of which were borne by the Indian state.
After the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the street protests shrunk and so did the stone-pelting incidents. Now the stone-throwing incidents are almost zero. This has taken away the optics of Kashmir suffering from troubles on daily basis, making it to the international headlines. The cries for Kashmir solution rose to a crescendo.
These successes against terrorism and its ecosystem have paved way for normalcy in the situation, tourist footfall has multiplied and economic activities touched new heights. This also has put Kashmir effectively on the map of the country as a place which is developing and moving to perfect peace. The recently concluded Lok Sabha elections were proverbial feather in cap.
This, however, is not the story of the entire Kashmir. There are elements who want to subvert the process of Kashmir returning to peace times. A syndicate is at work, what DGP Swain described as “terrorism syndicate.” the dismantling of this syndicate which is connected to the forces across the border in Pakistan as also to foreign terrorists , their facilitators and sympathizers in Jammu and Kashmir . What helps more than the overground workers whose job is to work for terrorists because of money and several other reasons.
DGP Swain, who hails from Odisha , in his analysis listed porous border with Pakistan , dotted with jungles, ravines, mountainous passes and hostile terrain of rocks, and mountains in J&K as parts of the syndicate. In normal sense, the terror ecosystem is often seen in the terminology of active terrorists , their support system from across the border and within with the individuals working on their own or collectively . But the terror syndicate operates on three broad parameters – terrorists who are trained to kill and who are pushed by Pakistan to this side of the Line of Control that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan , porous border and terrain that is more helpful to terrorists , and the narratives of subversion carried out by the individuals who are paid agents for subversion.
He , along with his team , has analyzed the situation which he believes is under control , and worked out a strategy to dismantle the terror syndicate .The operations against terrorists are top priority , especially foreigners , and at the same time the strategy envisages tracing and neutralizing the terror lines from wherever they might be passing. This way there would be an all out assault on terror syndicate.
Disclaimer: This is the personal opinion of the author. The views expressed in this write-up have nothing to do with www.prameyanews.com.
