Rise in Militancy in Jammu

• 05 Sep 2024

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

Key Points

• 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. 
• 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.
• 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.

Note:

• Terrorism: Terrorism under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2012, involves using violence or threats to create fear for political, ideological, or extremist aims, impacting national or global security.
• Militancy: Militancy refers to a readiness to use violence or combativeness, encompassing various groups or individuals including armed religious factions, often used interchangeably with terrorism but suggesting a potentially less extreme level of violent expression compared to terrorism.