SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing once again gradual increase in terrorism related incidents and during first six months of year 2021, till date 14 civilians were martyred by terrorists in different attacks. Beside these attacks various police men and paramilitary jawans also laid achieved martyrdom during anti terrorists operations and attacks across the Valley.
Even though many terrorists including their commanders were also killed in various operations.
Earlier this week , Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range Vijay Kumar, in a press briefing, termed drones as ‘new challenge and technical threat’.
He said that security of vital installations has been beefed up and troops are alert at Line of Control.
“Drone is a new technical threat and all the security agencies have jointly reviewed the situation while all the security installations and LoC are on alert,” the IGP told during an interaction with press reporters.
He also said that Police, Army, CRPF and Air Force have recently reviewed the drone threat.
“We will deal with it technically,” he said adding, “Deployment has been made at vital installations and details of that can’t be shared.”
In Srinagar a drone was spotted over Dal Lake earlier on Tuesday. Police has confiscated it and in this regard an FIR has been filed. The IGP Kashmir added that an investigation into the matter is underway.
On June 27, two drones targeted IAF station Jammu near Satwari, injuring two Jawans.
After these attacks high alert has been sounded in Jammu and Kashmir besides Pathankot air base.
Top officials of Army, IAF and other security agencies briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the situation, and in high-level meeting was also called to discussed the situation after drone attacks.
Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief Dilbag Singh, while briefing the press, about latest situation, said “Drone attacks was pre-planned by foreign terrorists who are said to be associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist organization.”
Police Chief further revealed that in IAF station debris of drones were found and in further investigation everything will be clear very soon .
Investigations of drone attack on IAF station Jammu has been assigned to National Investigation Agency (NIA).
On the other hand in Kashmir valley, terrorism related incidents have been increased and in only June month, many civilian and policemen were martyred, security recently said, as present in Kashmir valley there are around 200 terrorists, and all of them are in operational mode.
Recently in a shocking incident in Pulwama district terrorists martyred an SPO, his wife and their daughter, while in another incident, which took place in Tral area of Pulwama district, municipal councilor and BJP leader Rakesh Pandit were martyred by terrorists.
Kashmir police chief said that the terrorists have shown ‘how barbaric’ they are. ‘The terrorists have a habit of dubbing civilians as sources. But the SPO, his wife and daughter were not a source. It is not a sin to work in police department or be a part of anti- terrorism operations,” he said, adding that the SPO was not even part of counter- terrorism operations.
Stop killing civilians, off-duty policemen, IGP warned terrorists.
“If terrorists don’t stop targeting soft targets we also know what we have to do… I have been working in the police department for the last many years, so I know how to counter these cases. So, I advise them (terrorists) to not indulge in such activities,” IGP told.
“They are trying to create fear psychosis among the masses as they (terrorists) are scared that the tourist footfall will increase in the coming days, and peace and political process both are on track,” he added.
“Tracking a full-time terrorist is easy, but it is difficult to keep a tab over sleeper cells,” he said, adding that police have intensified its surveillance grid and will soon bust the terrorist module operating in the city.