Rise in Militancy in Jammu | 16 Jul 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

The Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has witnessed a notable increase in militant attacks since mid-2021, culminating in recent incidents including the ambush on Army vehicles in Kathua district and targeted strikes in other areas. 

• This resurgence marks a shift from historical patterns, raising alarms about security vulnerabilities and implications for regional stability.

What are the Reasons for Rise in Militancy in Jammu?

• Strategic Shift: The pursuance of zero terror policy in Kashmir have provided militants to an opportunity to operate in Jammu.
  • In 2020, perceived low militancy in Jammu led to troop movements to Ladakh (along LAC after the Galwan Accident), potentially prompting militants to relocate.
• Strategic Importance of Jammu: Jammu serves as a crucial gateway to the rest of India, making it an attractive target for militants aiming to disrupt normalcy and create fear.
• Geostrategic Considerations: The proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) provides militants easier access from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, facilitating infiltration and logistics support. 
  • Recent incidents indicate a deliberate effort to establish footholds in hilly and forested terrains across districts like Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi.
• Economic Disparities: Lack of economic opportunity and development in remote and border areas of Jammu create fertile ground for recruitment of local youths by militant groups.
• Political Alienation: Perceived political alienation among certain communities, exacerbated by historical grievances and administrative challenges, can foster sympathy or support for militant ideologies.
• Lack of Human Intelligence:  The locals who provided information decades ago are now in their 60s or 70s, and the security forces have not nurtured relations with younger generations, highlighting a gap in human intelligence gathering.

What are the Challenges in Dealing with Rise in Militancy?

• Geographical Terrain: The 192-km international border (IB) in Jammu and the 740-km Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir are potential infiltration points. 
  • Despite security measures, militants may have exploited tough terrains and forested areas along these borders for infiltration. The recent attacks in Kathua suggest a revival of old infiltration routes.
• Community Relations: Building and maintaining trust between security forces and local communities, essential for intelligence gathering, remains a persistent challenge amid historical grievances and demographic diversity.
  • Though efforts are underway to revive Village Defence Guards (VDGs) to counter militant threats, these efforts are complicated by past allegations of crimes committed by VDG members.
• Intelligence Gathering: Gathering accurate and timely intelligence is difficult due to the presence of local sympathisers and the use of sophisticated communication technologies by militants.
  • The challenge lies in facing high-tech, well-trained militants who adeptly cover their tracks by using locals' phones and apps like Telegram to evade detection by police and security forces.
• External Support: Allegations of cross-border support from Pakistan, including weapons supply via drones, underscore the external dimensions influencing local militancy dynamics.
• Communal Fault Lines: Jammu's demographic diversity, with a mix of Hindu, Muslim, and other communities, has historically been vulnerable to communal tensions during periods of heightened violence.
  • Recent incidents, such as the killings in Dangri village and targeted strikes on specific communities, indicate a deliberate strategy to stoke communal fears and divisions.

Way Forward

• Border Security Measures: Enhancing border surveillance and fortifying vulnerable points along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) is essential to curb cross-border infiltration. 
  • Investing in data analysis software to better interpret information collected through surveillance systems and identify infiltration patterns.
• Technological Advancements: Deploying advanced surveillance technologies, drones, and night-vision equipment enhances operational effectiveness and real-time monitoring of militant activities. 
• Legal and Political Frameworks: Strengthening legal frameworks against terrorism financing, and ensuring robust mechanisms for prosecuting suspects are essential for effective counter-terrorism operations. 
  • Eg. Strengthening Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), implemention of Enemy Agents Ordinance to effectively counter terror financing and terrorist activities and fast-tracking terror cases through dedicated courts to ensure speedy justice and deter future attacks.
• Community Engagement: Initiatives aimed at socio-economic development, youth empowerment, and fostering inter-community dialogue are essential to mitigate local support for extremist ideologies. 
  • Eg. Investing in education initiatives that promote tolerance and counter extremist narratives while also encouraging inter-faith dialogue and community engagement programs to foster social cohesion and address grievances that extremist groups exploit.
• Diplomatic Outreach: Diplomatic efforts to address cross-border implications of militancy, coupled with international cooperation on counterterrorism, can help disrupt external support networks.
  • For e.g. Building partnerships with regional security organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for a collective approach to counterterrorism.
• Policy Review: Continual review of security policies and adaptation to evolving militant tactics are necessary to maintain proactive security measures and minimise civilian casualties.
  • Promoting information sharing and best practice exchange between security forces and counter-terrorism experts while also ensuring civilian safety by adopting standardised operating procedures (SOPs) that minimise collateral damage.