‘Zero Tolerance’ Policy on Terrorism”: MHA
J&K sees rising terror attacks since June
Srinagar, July 30: Around 28 people, including 14 security personnel and 14 civilians were killed in 11 terror incidents and 24 encounters till 21st July this year. There is “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism, MHA said in a written reply on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to an ‘Unstarred Question’ by BJP MP Pradeep Kumar Singh in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament, listed out the methods adopted by the Centre to bring sustained peace and stability in the Union Territory.
“Whether the government has taken any concrete steps to make the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir free from terrorism,” Pradeep Kumar Singh asked in the ‘Unstarred Question’.
Responding to the question, the MoS said that the government has stressed on “sustained actions against terrorists and support structures”, crackdown on terror finance and banning of anti-national organisations.
“Total 14 security personnel and 14 civilians were killed up to July 21 this year, while the number of killings was 44 (30 security personnel and 14 civilians) in 46 terrorist-initiated incidents and 48 encounters or counter-terror operations in the Union Territory in 2023,” Rai said.
He said 146 people (91 security personnel and 55 civilians) were killed in 228 terrorist-initiated incidents and 189 encounters or counter-terror operations in the erstwhile state in 2018.
“There were 1328 stone pelting incidents and 52 organized Hartals in 2018,” the Minister said citing the data received from the Jammu and Kashmir government.
The Minister said that Government has taken any concrete steps to make Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir free from terrorism; and
“The Government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism. Our approach to the Government is to dismantle the terror eco- system. Security measures are being strengthened to sustain peace and stability in J&K,” he said.
He said that strategies adopted and action taken for containing acts of terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir include effective, continuous and sustained actions against terrorists and support structures.
“Dismantling the terror ecosystem using the whole government approach. Crackdown on terror finance such as seizure of properties belonging to terrorists and their associates under relevant sections of law and banning of anti-national organizations,” he said.
The MoS said that preventive operations involve identifying the strategic supporters of terrorism and initiating investigations to expose their mechanisms of aiding and abetting terrorism.
“There is a multi-pronged strategy to prevent infiltration, enhancement of counter-insurgency grid, and special focus on modernization and strengthening of security equipment, are among key steps that have been taken by the government to vanish terrorism from J&K,” he said.
The Minister further said that besides, round-the-clock nakas at strategic points, intensified Cordon and Search Operations (CASO) to effectively deal with the challenges posed by terrorist organisations.
“Sharing of intelligence inputs on a real-time basis, among all security forces operating in J&K, as well as day and night area dominance are other strategies adopted and actions taken for containing acts of terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said in a reply.
The UT has seen an increase in terror attacks over the past month and a half, beginning on June 9 in Reasi, where nine pilgrims were killed. During this period, various attacks have also targeted soldiers and security personnel.
The Jammu region, which had been relatively peaceful from 2005 to 2021 after security forces dismantled long-standing terrorism, has recently experienced a rise in attacks. This includes an assault on a pilgrim bus that resulted in nine deaths and 40 injuries. Terror activities had resurfaced in October 2021 in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
