The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-E-Taiba outfit threatens this years Amarnath Yatra, alleges BJP-RSS using it for political and demographic gains.
Highlights
•Lashkar-e-Taiba Outfit, the Resistance Front, issues written threat ahead of Amarnath Yatra preparations.
•Outfit threatens actions against attempts at “demographic alteration” in the name of Amarnath Yatra.
•Written threat comes in the wake of multiple murders of Kashmiri pandits in the valley.So far,
On Sunday, the Resistance Front issued a written threat to strike this years Amarnath Yatra. The Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit has alleged that BJP-RSS are using it to “pump sanghis into the valley”. The statement argued that the number of registered pilgrims have risen from a mere 15,000 to 8 lakhs. According to the militants, this meant demographic alteration. The outfit will strike if the government uses religious institutions against the Kashmir struggle. They will openly target anyone who becomes “pawn” of the BBJP-RSS.
The Resistance Front’s Violence against Kashmir’s Minorities
Resistance Front’s threat comes after a series of murders in the valley. On May 13th, Rahul Bhat, a revenue department official at the tehsil of Chadoora, was fatally shot by unidentified assailants. The attack has led to protests by Kashmiri Pandits who fear that the BJP dispensation has failed to provide them security.
On April 13th Satish Kumar Singh, a Dogra Rajput, was killed outside his home in Kakran village,bordering Shopian and Kulgam district.Another Kashmiri Pandit , one Bal Krishan Bhat, was also shot by unidentified militants in South Kashmir’s Kulgam. Last year, there were targeted attacks on Kashmiri Pandits and migrant workers in the valley. So far the Resistance Front has claimed responsibility in all of these attacks.
Who are the Resistance Front?
The Resistance Front(henceforth TRF) was born immediately after the BJP government revoked Articles 35A and 377 of the Indian Constitution. According to the NIA, they are backed by the Lashkar-e-Taiba and were created in Pakistan. They were created to make terrorist groups in Kashmir look indigenous. They have also been getting regular support from the neighbouring country. Their first attack was a grenade attack in Hari Singh Street on 12th October 2019. The bomb attack injured eight civilians. On the same day, the TRF declared its existence on Telegram. It claimed responsibility for the attack and called it the inception of “indigenous Kashmiri resistance” against the “occupational Indian regime”.
On April 2020, the Indian Army too were called to fight TRF after a gunfight close to the LoC In Keran Sector,Kupwara. In the firefight five militants were killed and were from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Apart from targeting indigenous minorities, it has also killed numerous CRPF personnel, and Security Force( SF). Unlike previous Islamist units, which had images of its commanders, the TRF is discreet. It doesn’t use religious iconography and it operates solely through Twitter. It also uses body cameras to take snippets of attacks on defence personnel. Such snippets motivate their viewers to join them.
In December 2020, the outfit murdered a jeweller, Satpal Nischal. In a Facebook post they accused him of being an RSS agent and aiding “the settler-colonial project” in Kashmir. Another victim included the well known physicist Makhan Lal Bindroo. He was accused by them of being an RSS accomplice. According to the police, the TRF consists of hybrid-militants. They are usually not on police’s radar and are hard to track.
So far the Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha, has reviewed the Amarnath Yatra preparations on May 21. He stressed on ensuring the best facilities for the pilgrims. The J&K administration hasn’t given an opinion on the written statement by the Lashkar-e Taiba outfit.
(Inputs from The Quint, Indian Express and India Today).
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