A total of 47 individuals, comprising 15 security personnel and 25 terrorists, lost their lives this year in three Jammu districts, as confirmed by officials on Wednesday. The surge in violence is attributed to “desperate attempts from across the border” to reignite militancy. Another soldier fell during an anti-terrorism operation in Rajouri on Thursday, increasing Army casualties to five, with reports of two neutralized Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.
Among the deceased were four Army officers, including two captains, in an ongoing anti-terrorist operation in Rajouri’s Bajimaal area. Earlier, ambushes in Mendhar (Poonch) and Kandi Forest (Rajouri) on April 20 and May 5 claimed 10 lives, including five commandos.
Officials report 47 deaths in militancy-related violence this year in Rajouri, Poonch, and nearby Reasi. Rajouri witnessed 24 fatalities, including seven terrorists and 10 security personnel, while Poonch recorded 15 terrorists and five security personnel deaths. Additionally, three terrorists were killed in Reasi.
Most terrorists were intercepted while attempting to infiltrate. A recent encounter in Rajouri followed a gunfight in Behrote, Budhal area, on November 17, leaving one terrorist dead.
Officials attribute the increased encounters to substantial counter-terrorist operations aiming to thwart repeated cross-border attempts to revive militancy in Jammu and alleviate pressure on terrorists in the Kashmir Valley.
This year, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed 121 deaths in militancy-related violence, comprising 81 terrorists and 27 security personnel. Notably, an Army colonel and a deputy superintendent of police lost their lives in a week-long operation in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Notable insurgences
2001-Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly bombing – On 1 October 2001, a bombing at the Legislative Assembly in Srinagar killed 38.[147]
2002-Raghunath temple attacks – First attack occurred on 30 March 2002 when two suicide bombers attacked the temple. Eleven persons including three security forces personnel were killed and 20 were injured. In second attack, the fidayeen suicide squad attacked the temple second time on 24 November 2002 when two suicide bombers stormed the temple and killed fourteen devotees and injured 45 others.
2014-Kashmir Valley attacks – There were four attacks on 5 December 2014 on army, police and civilians resulted in 21 deaths and several injured. Their motive was to disrupt the ongoing assembly elections.[154] 2016-Uri attack – Four armed militants sneaked into an army camp and lobbed grenades onto tents causing massive fire culminating in the death of 19 military personnel.