Terrorists on the Prowl in J&K

In a major breakthrough, security forces have foiled a major terrorist strategy to inflict severe damage to the lives of the innocent people. During the search operations on Sunday in the Thana Mandi area a terrorist hideout was busted. Security forces recovered eight Improvised explosive Devices (IEDs), two wireless sets and ammunition. Security forces also arrested a teacher from Hari Budha in Mandi area of Poonch. He was acting as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) for the terrorists. In the search operations security forces recovered pistol, grenades and arms and ammunition from his possession. Not only that, the security forces also deactivated the IED in the Anantnag area of Bijbehara of Kashmir. It is pertinent to mention that the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch  including Anantnag  will be witnessing polling for the  third phase of the Lok Sabha Elections on 7th May. Terrorists are on the prowl to execute an act of sabotage to create fear psychosis so that people are kept away from the democratic process. From 17th to 21st April there have been continuous incidents of terror by the terrorists to destabilise the relative peace in Jammu and Kashmir. It includes the targeted killing of the non-local in Anantnag besides the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition to keep the supply lines of the subversives intact. So far the security forces have succeeded to neutralise nefarious plans of the terrorists and pre-empted the major tragedies that could have posed serious threat to life and limb of the innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir. One thing is clear that the terror outfits are quite active in the union territory and are seeking the opportunities to strike. The initiation of the electoral process for the Lok Sabha has unnerved them. In order to show their presence and keep their terror constituency alive they are eager to strike. It is evident that they will not lose any opportunity to strike and exploit the loop holes in the security apparatus to inflict heavy damage. There is an urgent need to keep these terror modules at bay and neutralise their patrons and support structure. The involvement of a teacher in Poonch in the terror activities is indeed a matter of concern .The sleeper cells and over ground workers (OGW) are acting as the cost benefit arms of these terrorists. And it is quite clear that they have infiltrated the institutions from where they are inflicting damage to the nation by using the instruments of the state, besides they allow cover  to the enemies of the nation. Intelligence gathering has to be made more alert and proactive so that these subversives are detected at the earliest and the backbone of terrorism is broken. Rajouri has been engulfed in a vicious cycle of terrorism and here the terrorists have indulged in prolonged ambushes with the army. That is alarming. Terrorists have adopted modus operandi that give an impression of having shifted their theatre of war to Rajouri-Poonch. As the vigil in Kashmir has indeed strangulated them. It seems to be a deliberate tactic to regroup and gain ground. In such a situation security forces can’t lower their guard. Terrorist tactics have to be decoded and their nefarious designs nipped in the bud. The infiltration attempts have not been reduced from Pakistan. As such a multi-pronged strategy to counter both internal and external dimensions of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has to be adopted by the security grid. So that the apt response is given to neutralise it. Lowering the guard at the borders will surely encourage the sleeper cells that can indulge in sabotage if noose is not tightened.