Militants have adopted another tactics of disrupting normal and peaceful life in Kashmir. Under the new tactics, they are attacking telecom towers and threatening to derail entire telecom infrastructure. The threat has been extended to the cellular companies, their franchises as well as the persons in whose premises towers have been erected. The tactics of attacking the towers and the persons involved in telecom business began first in Sopore town where two persons suspected to have been killed by the militants.
This is a big conspiracy and has a wide network in the Valley. Putting the odds and ends together, it is possible to build a complete picture of the tactics used by the militants to pursue their new policy of intimidation. We are fully convinced that this is a meticulously drawn conspiracy at the think-tank level of the militants.
Attacks on towers and telecom related crimes have been owned by an organization calling itself Lashkar-i-Islam means the Legions of Islam. Police, conducting inquiry into the attacks on towers have not so far come out with any reasoned story.
There is a very clear and calculated plan of intensifying militancy in the Valley. This has to be understood in a chain of happening in last two or three months. Sudden release and re-arrest of separatist leader Masarat Alam, waving Pakistani flags by both Hurriyat factions and then Shabir Shah in succession, recurrent bids of infiltration, militant attacks at various places in the Valley, the planned attack on army base in Tangdhar and the resultant gun battle and now the attacks on communication towers and cellular companies, all show that there is strong incentive to the militants from across the border to exacerbate militancy related activities.
This menace has to be resisted. The Home Ministry has, in an advisory, asked the State to submit its detailed action plan for meeting this challenge. Disrupting telecommunication means a severely crippling normal life and business in the state. The State Government cannot remain complacent but must take stringent measures to paralyse militants in their nefarious designs. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India have already written to the Home Ministry as well as the State Government seeking urgent intervention pointing out that some employees, retailers and franchises have stopped work following militant attacks and threats. There are around 10,000 cell phone towers in Kashmir valley including 100 hub towers. The Government cannot remain complacent. It is important that security of these towers has to be upgraded. The police authorities have already indicated that they are ready to take over the manning of these towers to ensure their safety.
We know that the Government is seriously concerned with this situation. The Chief Minister called an urgent meeting of senior security, police and telecom officials and discussed the matter. Obviously, the Government is working on an action plan. The police have the duty of nabbing those who are found indulging in these subversive activities and bring them to book. What the militants want is to push the society to the middle ages culture and not live in this century of science and technology.
The Government must come down with a strong hand on miscreants and give them exemplary punishment so that nobody dares to damage the vital infrastructure like the communication infrastructure in the State. Saner elements in the Valley should come out in condemnation of such senseless and wanton deeds that bring so many difficulties to the people.
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