Nishikant Khajuria
Targeted killings in Kashmir Valley have thrown a new challenge for the Government and its security forces. In the last one month, seven civilians, mostly non locals from the minority community working in Kashmir, have been shot dead by militants thus triggering fresh migration of these fear-stricken workers. Following the killing of Rahul Bhat and Rajni Bala, the migrant Kashmiri Pandits employed under Prime Minister Rehabilitation Package and the Reserved categories employees (Dogra Hindus), who are working in Kashmir Valley, have been agitating for transfer to Jammu even as the Government has ordered adjustment of these employees at safer places in Kashmir.
Though the number of militancy related incidents had witnessed a decline after the abrogation of Article 370 and infamous stone pelting incidents in Kashmir almost disappeared, the recent spurt in targeted killings has made it clear that neither militancy is at decline nor the Pakistan has stopped sponsoring terrorism in Jammu Kashmir. After the repeal of Article 370, the first case of targeted killing took place on October 29, 2019 when five non-local labourers were shot dead in Kulgam. Thereafter, in January 2021, a non-local jeweller Satpal Nischal was shot dead inside his shop in Srinagar. Two months later, son of the owner of Krishna Dhaba in Srinagar was shot dead. A prominent Pharmacist M L Bindroo was shot dead at his shop in October 2021. The same evening a non-local panipuri seller from Bihar was killed. The next day the Principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Sangam in Srinagar, Supinder Kour, and her colleague, Deepak Chand, were shot dead in the school premises. More attacks in the same month left another four non-local workers dead.
This year militants started targeting representatives of Panchyat institutions. In March, three Panchayat members were killed in targeted attacks. A civilian Dogra Rajput Satish Kumar was killed on April 13 in south Kashmir. Almost a month later Kashmiri Pandit Rahul Bhat was shot dead inside his office at Chadoora Budgam. Since then, five people including a Hindu employee at a wine shop, a Muslim TV artist, female Dogra Hindu school teacher Rajni Bala, a non local bank manager and a non local labourer have been shot dead by militants.
Even as the UT Government as well as the Centre have taken serious cognizance of these killings in Kashmir and Union Home Minister Amit Shah called a high-level security review meeting in New Delhi on June 3 wherein he directed that all possible steps must be taken immediately to prevent targeted killings, Government is required to adopt a multipronged strategy at various levels, besides strengthening the security grid to counter the threat of terrorism in J&K, particularly in Kashmir Valley.
So far, the J&K administration has not been able to provide reassurance or infuse a sense of security among those who fear they may be targeted next. The Kashmiri Pandits and non-local Hindus, who are believed to be the main target of the militants, need to be instilled confidence against the threat of terror by providing them a secured environment within Kashmir Valley. Shifting the non-locals and Kashmiri Pandits to Jammu is not the solution and it will only aggravate the problem besides fulfilling nefarious designs of militants.
In step towards providing a secured environment for the minorities in Kashmir, majority locals have a major role to play. All out efforts should be made to take the locals from majority community into confidence and entrusted the responsibility of safety of Kashmiri Pandits as well as non-locals. Though a handful of fundamentalists are playing in the hands of Pakistan, majority people in Kashmir valley want peace and harmony among all. On the pattern of Village Defence Committees, which have proven to play significant role against spread of militancy in erstwhile Doda district and other regions of Jammu division, similar committees may be established in Kashmir Valley and if needed, firearms can also be provided to them to guard against militants. Alienating majority community will not yield encouraging results whereas entrusting responsibility will make them accountable.
Mainstream political parties should also be involved in the process and for outreach to people from majority as well as minority communities. The Government as well as its establishment has to trust people and political representatives in creating atmosphere of peace. New Delhi may have some reservations and apprehension in initiating the much needed political process in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, but ultimately it has to rely on people of the UT and mainstream political parties here.
In policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and further strengthening the security grid, the Government seems already leaving no stone unturned. The latest spate of targeted attacks is happening at a time when security forces have launched a massive offensive against the militants and their sympathizers across Kashmir. This year, over 90 militants including some top self styled commanders have been killed in Kashmir. To further strengthen the security grid and take on militants, J&K Police definitely has the most important role to play and the Union Home Ministry needs to recognize this fact for better results. Of course Army and other para military forces are playing crucial role in eliminating terrorists, but local Police and its intelligence wing at Thana level will play a bigger role in the security of civilians in Kashmir. This strategy was used in the late 80s and 90s in neighbouring Punjab and it helped the Government to wipe out terrorism from the State.
Militancy is unlikely to be completely wiped out without ending the local support, which will not get finished by keeping the majority community in Kashmir out of loop. Strengthening the security grid is most important in fight against terrorism but concentrating on this aspect only will not yield encouraging results in long run. Therefore, the Government must evolve a comprehensive strategy by involving locals from majority community to provide a secured milieu to non-locals and take on the enemies of humanity who in the name of so called Jehad are killing innocents and turning Kashmir into a hell.
Follow our WhatsApp channel