In a terrorist encounter at least 4 militants were killed this morning at Sidhra in Jammu and Kashmir. Militants were traveling in a truck and moving toward Kashmir. When the truck was followed by the Police forces and stopped near Sidhra’s checkpoint, the terrorist opened heavy fire on the Police forces.
Terrorist Encounter: A Hotbed in Kashmir
In the early morning, a suspicious movement was observed in a truck moving toward Kashmir. When it was followed and stopped by the Police personnel at the Sidhra checkpoint, the terrorists opened heavy gunfire at Police personnel. Amid the heavy fog and dense visibility, the encounter was carried on, the truck caught fire, and terrorists were killed.
The Jammu and Kashmir ADGP confirmed at least 4 terrorists were killed in the encounter. An investigation is now ongoing to find the departure location of the terrorists. More information could be retrieved once the truck is completely searched. The search operation is carrying on to find the driver who flew away.
The fierce firing between the two sides was carried on for at least 45 minutes. During this encounter, several explosions of grenades were also heard. The truck was completely damaged in the gunfight. The information about the identity and group of the killed terrorist is still not known.
The Security situation in Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has been affected by terrorist and secessionist violence, sponsored and supported from across the border, for more than three decades. In the year 2021 alone, 229 incidents of terrorist activities occurred in Jammu and Kashmir in which 42 security forces, 41 civilians, and 180 terrorists were killed.
One of the major issues for India is the ongoing militancy in Jammu and Kashmir which is linked with infiltration of terrorists from across the border both from the “International Border” as well as the “Line of Control” in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2021 alone, 73 infiltration attempts have taken place which is an all-time low in the last five years.
The Annual report on the affairs of Jammu and Kashmir published by the Ministry of Home Affairs suggests that the incident of militancy is significantly reduced in the region in the last 5 years. The central government has launched many effective operations, policies, and programs in Jammu and Kashmir to help reduce the militancy in the region.
The never-ending Terrorist activities
Encounter in J & K is ongoing for a brief period of time. In recent years the intensity may have triggered down but the possibility is not totally disappeared about the occurrence of militancy in the region. If we observe the South Asia Terrorism Portal(SATP) we find that terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir are day-to-day affairs.
If we look at the trend we find that this is the third encounter between security forces and militants since August 11 in the Jammu division. On August 11, four soldiers including a JCO were killed in a militant attack on an Army camp in the Darhal area of the Rajouri district. On August 15, another encounter took place in the Budal area of Rajouri.
In another incident on Monday Jammu and Kashmir police recovered Improvised Explosive Device-like material and a huge cache of arms and ammunition and arrested one suspect in Udhampur. The role of the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba is believed.
The list is never-ending, the hope is never fading, and the measures are always in the line.
Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is affecting India in many ways but our nation is tackling every incident of terrorism with fierce action and intense operations. India is always ready to counter the militant insurgency in the affected regions and our intelligence and military forces are effectively reducing terrorism and terror.
