Doda Encounter

The Rising Kashmir in its editorial on 26th June had made it amply clear that semblance of peace must not be taken as absolute peace in Jammu and Kashmir. The reason being the well-entrenched and well-oiled terror modules have developed new strategies by shifting the theatre of war to the areas where they can act with impunity. On Wednesday the security forces launched major search operations in the Gandoh area of Doda in Jammu. This hunt to nab the terrorists was in backdrop of the 11th and 12th June twin terror attacks at Gandoh and Chattergala areas. These attacks had injured many security personnel. In this encounter three terrorists are reported to be gunned down. These terrorists are suspected to be from across the border and were involved in the 11th and 12th June attacks on the security personnel. The combing operations unnerved the terrorists and they retaliated. With the bodies of three terrorists two M4 rifles and an AK47 have been seized along with the explosives and the ammunition. It is pertinent to mention that police had arrested three people in connection with the attack. Besides, the residents of Tanta in Gandoh are accused of providing logistical support to the terrorists. Based on the information given by the people taken into custody police had released a sketch of four terrorists and announced an award of Rs. 20 lakh for nabbing them. The Rising Kashmir has been vindicated as it has been repeatedly expressing concern in its editorials that the terror modules are active with local support. And the Pir Panjal has been rendered into a terror infested area. There is a clear cut objective to indulge in acts of sabotage in the Jammu region. Taking advantage of the forest cover in the Jammu region, be it Rajouri, Poonch or Doda. There is a terror plan that has been operationalized to keep Jammu region on the boil after having achieved the objective of destabilising the Kashmir valley. These continuous acts of terrorism must lead to proactive action on ground. Reaction mode will not counter this threat that is increasing day by day. It has to be countered at the earliest. So that the terrorists patronised from across the border are not emboldened to indulge in acts of massacre that can lead to destabilisation and social disharmony. These incidents are occurring at a time when Amarnath Yatra has started and numerous pilgrims are Yatra bound. Any one gruesome incident can lead to a negative impact on the overall security situation. Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford another 1990 like situation in which genocidal attrition was imposed by the terror modules on the innocent people leading to gross human rights violations. Wounds of terrorism are still fresh. Any gruesome act directed against any particular community will have serious repercussions and tear apart the social fabric that is already fragile. Administration needs to develop a comprehensive strategy to counter terrorism with all available resources. It involves the counsel of the people from various areas who have the expertise to defeat this ideological war based on radical indoctrination. Time has come to think seriously to involve civil society groups and strategic experts who are from Jammu and Kashmir and have lived through this ethno-religious conflict. Experience at ground zero matters. Counsel of parachute experts who have no sensitisation about the ideological war imposed in Jammu and Kashmir have only worsened the situation, leading to implementation of counterproductive strategies that have only multiplied the terror acts in Jammu and Kashmir. The Rising Kashmir has been repeatedly suggesting to involve the local security experts and analysts who have an ear to the ground. And we are vindicated.