SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: ‘Hybrid-terrorism’ is emerging as a new and major challenge for Jammu Kashmir police and other security forces these days. A hike in attacks on ‘soft targets’ in Valley, including Srinagar city, was witnessed in October 2021, and most of these incidents have been carried out by pistol-borne youths, who are not on list of terrorists available with security agencies.
The IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that this type of terrorism is undoubtedly a new challenge for security forces but we are completely prepared to tackle any type of challenge and curb all forms of terrorism. Police is working hard to identify all such part-time/hybrid terrorists and strictest action shall be taken against them, he added.
Recently in a brief shoot out in Baramulla District, a terrorist was eliminated by security forces, who was believed to be a hybrid-terrorist. IGP informed reporters that he was the first ‘hybrid-terrorist’ who has been neutralised in Baramulla, and in coming days, security forces will tackle the situation easily and in a systematic manner. Kashmir Zone IGP informed media that killed terrorist was a ‘hybrid-terrorists’ and was identified as Javed Ahmed Wani, resident of Kulgam.
According to police officials, in all recent terror attacks terrorists used pistols. “These attacks have been carried out by newly-recruited terrorists or those who are about to join terrorist ranks. In some cases, OGWs have been found directly involved as ‘hybrid terrorists’, as they not listed as ultras but are radicalised enough to carry-out a terror strike and then slip back into routine life,” said officials, adding that new trend in terrorism has been started on directions of Pakistan and ISI.
Earlier, Police, in the first week of September last year, declared Srinagar city as ‘terrorist-free’. However, there have been attacks on civilians and policemen after that and officials believe that it is handiwork of ‘hybrid-terrorists’.
Regarding recent target killings, the officials said that aim behind attacks is to spread fear and stop business and social activities. “We are tracking full-time terrorists but there is bit difficulty in tracking part-time or hybrid terrorists as they go back to their normal living after carrying out an attack. We are keeping full surveillance and will nab all of them soon,” officials claimed.