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| Twin threats to peace in J&K | | | The sensitive state of Jammu and Kashmir is faced with twin threats to peace.One emanates from repeated ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops on the LoC and on the IB in the state.During the last five days the Pakistani troops resorted to ceasefire violations on more than nine occasions which is bound to cause concern among the security agencies and the establishment in Srinagar and New Delhi.The second issue that seems to have increased security instability is the sudden increase in the activities of militants.Initially these militants were active in the Kashmir valley where they had no hesitation in attacking security pickets,convoys and even the police posts.Several security personnel have been killed in these attacks and scores of them injured.These two events have led to a wave of fresh scare among people in the state and that too when on Wednesday militants targeted a BSF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in which two BSF soldiers were killed and more than 10 others were injured.What seems to have added to tension and panic is the way one militant,even after one of them was killed in retaliatory fire,took three civilians as hostages while fleeing from the site of the incident. It was first attack after several years in Udhampur district. Luckily a group of civilians captured the militant alive and handedover to the police.
This incident seems to have given a chance to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to voice his concern. He has said the attack on the BSF convoy was a "worrying development" as the area had remained free from militancy for a long time."An attack on this stretch of the NH (National Highway) after a very long time. Worrying development because area was militant free," Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.The attack, which comes days after terror struck Dinanagar of Punjab, is the first in the district in over a decade. Udhampur was one of the four districts of Jammu and Kashmir from where the Omar Abdullah-led state government wanted the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to be revoked citing considerable improvement in the situation.The other districts were Srinagar and Budgam in Kashmir Valley and Jammu district in Jammu region.The way two Border Security Force (BSF)jawans and a militant were killed on Wednesday when militants attacked a BSF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Narsu Nallah, 17 km from Udhmapur indicates that a lot of preparation may have been made by the militants because in the attack ten BSF jawans were also injured.
Around 25 BSF men were sitting in the bus when they were attacked. A BSF man was killed on the spot whereas another succumbed to his injuries in Chenani hospital, which is 10 kms from the encounter site.Five critically injured BSF men were shifted to Chenani hospital and others were admitted to a military hospital in Udhampur.
In the context of the twin threats to peace it is time the security agencies ,including the Army,put their heads together and work out a programme for meeting growing challenges from the Pakistani troops and from the militants.Tough measures have to be taken in hand because the incident on the highway has exposed chinks in the security of the highway,which is the only road link between the Kashmir valley and the region of Jammu. The attack reveals that militants had no plan to target Amarnath pilgrims because the strike on the BSF bus was carried out after an hour or so the pilgrims' convoy had crossed the spot.
Had the militants targeted the pilgrims convoy the death toll could have been quite high.But militants must have carried out a proper survey of the area.They should have known that before the pilgrims convoy moves the security forces carry out road opening programme and during that time militants were not in a position to attack lest they should have been killed.The incident also has one lesson for the security forces,including the Army.Whenever troops are on the move in convoys or are on the move in a couple of buses they should be provided with proper security cover and before the start of the convoy road opening programme should be made compulsory.Also there is need for the central Government to sanction AIIMS for Jammu and announce a hefty financial package for the state which would first of all silence the agitators in Jammu and allow people a chance to taste the fruits of development activities.Let those affected by floods during the last over one year receive adequate compensation and help the Government in rebuilding the infrastructure that had been damaged by floods and landslides. |
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