Image Source: PTI
Since January 1, a total of twelve security personnel, including an Army captain, and ten civilians have tragically lost their lives in a series of terror attacks that have gripped the Jammu region. The surge in these incidents has been attributed to a recent influx of new terrorists who infiltrated the area over the past six months, as reported by The Indian Express. These militants, believed to be affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group, predominantly hail from Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions.
The severity of the situation was underscored by a recent incident on Monday night in Doda district, where four Army personnel were killed during a fierce gun battle with heavily armed terrorists. This marked the third major terrorist attack in Jammu within a span of three weeks and the seventh since the new NDA government assumed office. Earlier on July 8, another attack in Kathua district claimed the lives of five soldiers, with similar incidents reported in Rajouri district just days before.
Further escalating the tragedy, nine pilgrims were killed and 42 others injured in a brutal attack on a bus in Reasi district on June 9, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fresh term inauguration. Initially, the ‘People’s Anti-Fascist Front’ claimed responsibility for attacks in Poonch-Rajouri, while the ‘Kashmir Tigers’ took credit for subsequent strikes in Doda-Kathua, both groups purportedly fronts for JeM according to The Express.
The attackers, described as highly trained and potentially including former Pakistan Army personnel with combat experience from Afghanistan, have demonstrated a disturbing level of operational sophistication. This includes the use of advanced technology like body cameras to record their actions, accompanied by meticulously crafted propaganda materials in flawless English, often quoting renowned authors and poets. The situation reflects a complex security challenge, necessitating heightened vigilance and robust responses to safeguard civilian lives and maintain regional stability.
