Srinagar, Aug 05: The security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir Union territory has changed significantly since the abrogation of Article 370, officials said.
According to the top security officials, the number of militants in Jammu and Kashmir is at an all-time low and “terrorism” is declining in the Union territory especially in the valley.
“Since the abrogation of Article 370, there has been a significant decrease in militant-related incidents, and the overall security situation has improved. The number of “terrorists” in Jammu and Kashmir is at an all-time low,” a top police official said, wishing not to be named.
“Majority of the operations conducted during the last four years were based on human intelligence,” the official said.
“It shows that there is an awakening in civil society. People have realised the futility of taking up violence. They understand what is happening across (the border),” he said.
“We should look at it positively. The civil population especially in these last four years was helping us to neutralise the militants and end the cycle of violence,” he said.
On a question about the situation along the Line of Control the official said that it is absolutely fine, however he added that the terror launchpads across the border continue to be full and there are inputs of attempts to cross over to the Indian side.
“But I can assure you that we are fully ready for any such eventuality to ensure that no infiltration takes place. If any does take place, we will be neutralising them the way the operations are being conducted in the hinterland,” he said.
He admitted that the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir has also changed significantly since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and there has been a significant decrease in terrorist-related incidents in the region, and the overall security situation has improved.
Meanwhile, according to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of terrorist-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in the last four years decreased significantly.
The improved security situation has allowed for the resumption of normal life in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government has taken a number of steps to improve the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. These include: Increased deployment of security forces, increased intelligence gathering, improved coordination between security forces Development of new counter-terrorism strategies.
All kinds of terror-related violence witnessing steep decline giving people a strong relief on all fronts.
“There has been a notable decrease in various security-related incidents including grenade attacks, IED blasts, and civilian casualties in J&K. The decrease reflects a positive impact on public safety with a reduced threat from these incidents,” the report said.
Additionally, it added, stand-off fire and hit and run cases, weapon snatching, encounters and incidents of arson have also seen significant decreases.
The security scenario report analyzed the impact of Article 370 abrogation on the security situation of Jammu and Kashmir. It examined 17 security indicators related to various incidents and provided comparative analysis between pre-and-post-370 periods. The findings revealed a decrease in most indicators showing an improvement in the overall security landscape.
“There has been a decrease in civilian and security forces fatalities and injuries highlighting enhanced security measures and reduced risk for both civilians and jawans,” the report said and revealed decrease in terror recruitment and increase in arrest of terrorists, their associates and suspects which made a positive impact in disrupting the terrorist ecosystem.
Overall, it said, the security scenario post Article 370 abrogation demonstrates notable progress in ensuring public safety, mitigating security threats and maintaining stability in the Union Territory.
Stone pelting incidents which used to create major law and order problems in the Kashmir Valley prior to abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir recorded massive decline. The decrease signifies improved public order and a more peaceful environment, the report said.
Similarly, the hartal/bandh calls were also down, which too was a massive decrease indicating improved socio-political stability and reduced impact on daily activities due to strikes or shutdowns, it added.
“Encounters and counter-terrorism operations also witnessed massive decreases.
This decline suggests a positive impact on the region’s security with fewer instances of confrontations between security forces and militants,” the report said.
According to the report, the number of security personnel attaining martyrdom in Jammu and Kashmir also decreased significantly while the number of injuries to police/security personnel also came down.
Terror recruitment which was also a major headache for security agencies too has gone down.
Incidents of kidnappings also reduced while instances of arson went down , the report said.
“After the revocation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into two union territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. This led to the extension of the Indian legal and constitutional framework uniformly across these regions. For the police, it means a more unified jurisdiction and seamless coordination with law enforcement agencies from other parts of the country,” the report said.
