This year, Jammu has been struck by a series of terror attacks that have claimed the lives of 29 individuals, including 10 civilians. Twelve fallen soldiers were from the military, para-military and police forces, according to a PTI report. Five foreign terrorists were gunned down. A village defence guard and a government employee too lost their lives in terror-related incidents.

The Jammu region has witnessed a disturbing rise in violence, particularly in its border districts, reversing years of relative peace. This worrying shift is being witnessed as India prepares for a legislative election later this year — the first since the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked and the then-state was bifurcated into two Union Territories in 2019.

The Doda encounter

Four army personnel, including an officer, were killed in a fierce gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in the Doda district. The fallen soldiers were identified as Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, and Sepoys Bijendra and Ajay.

Despite the challenging terrain and thick foliage, the troops, led by Captain Thapa, engaged the terrorists in another firefight on Monday evening, resulting in severe injuries to five soldiers. Unfortunately, four of them, including Captain Thapa, later succumbed to their injuries.

Here, Firstpost brings out a chronology of terror attacks and terrorist-security personnel encounters reported this year:

July 2024: Escalation of violence

June 2024: Continuous clashes

May 2024: Terror attack in Poonch

April 2024: Rising tensions

Surge in terror activities

The sudden uptick in terror activities in the Jammu region shows a reversal of the relative peace that this part of the Union Territory, Jammu and Kashmir, experienced between 2005 and 2021. Security forces had kept Kashmir’s long-standing terrorism out of Jammu region during that period.

However, terror attacks have seen a surge since October 2021, originating from the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. The security establishment attributes this resurgence to efforts by Pakistani handlers aiming to revive terrorism in the Jammu region.

Recent encounters and operations

The latest encounter in Doda saw the mobilisation of reinforcements from the Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. A joint cordon and search operation was launched at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest belt, approximately 55 km from Doda town.

The operation began late on Monday evening, and after a brief exchange of fire, the terrorists attempted to escape but were pursued by the troops, leading to another confrontation.

In response to the escalating violence, the Army’s elite para-commandos were deployed, and drones and helicopters were utilised for surveillance. Despite these efforts, there has been no fresh contact with the terrorists, who are believed to have infiltrated from across the border and have been hiding in the forest area for the past couple of months.

A historical context and an upcoming election

Since 2021, over 70 people, including 52 security personnel, have been killed in terror-related incidents in the Jammu region. Most of the casualties have occurred in Rajouri and Poonch districts, where 54 terrorists have also been eliminated. The resurgence of terror activities, attributed to external influences, poses a significant challenge to the security forces.

The ongoing operations in the Jammu region highlight the relentless efforts of the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of the region’s residents. As the situation continues to evolve, the focus remains on neutralising the terror threat and restoring peace and stability to the affected areas.

The Union Territory is expected to go to the assembly polls later this year, a perceived reason for Pakistan-based terror groups to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Jammu region, which has not traditionally been vulnerable to terror attacks.

With inputs from PTI

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Terror in Jammu: 12 soldiers, 10 civilians dead this year as J&K heads to polls