Security beefed up in J&K's terror riddled twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch

Security agencies have reported an increase in activity along the Line of Control of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch. The agencies have observed an exponential growth in infiltration attempts along the said LOC.

Government data suggests that the area along the line of control has in the past and continues to be riddled by violence. A total of 26 security personnel, which includes three officers, five paratroopers, and seven civilians, have fallen prey to the violence since October 21, 2021. The rise in casualties have alerted the forces, and now they are devising strategies to curb the violence along this volatile belt.

"There is no denying that infiltration is taking place from these areas. If attempts are being thwarted by security forces, the possibility of another group going undetected are relatively high," a senior officer serving on ground said. He also shed light on what he thinks is Pakistan's strategy of injecting more people into the valley. "This is an all-weather route, so that also works to their advantage, and they can also easily cross over to the valley," he added.

During the 1990's, this belt used to be frequented by insurgents, however it experienced a period of lull and calm since the 2000's. Lately, the twin districts have had to bear the brunt of alarmingly high violence rates. Intelligence agencies have flagged a rise in infiltration attempts, and warned the security forces operating on ground. "Cordon and search operations are now an everyday affair. We keep hearing about encounters and casualties," says Dhiraj Sharma, the village Sarpanch of Dangri in Rajouri. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha hinted at fresh strategic changes that are being made by the security and the intelligence agencies to restore normalcy in this belt.

A recent report released by the Forum of Human Rights for Jammu and Kashmir further elucidated on this issue. "After decades of peace, the bordering areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu division are re-emerging as a locus for militancy with cross-border support from Pakistan-held territories of the former state," read the report.