Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a marked escalation in militant attacks and counter-terrorism operations since October 18, just two days after the Omar Abdullah-led elected government assumed office.
On October 18, Ashok Chauhan, a non-local corn seller from Bihar, was killed by unidentified militants in Shopian district. Two days later, seven people, including a local doctor, were killed in an attack in Gangangeer, Ganderbal. This incident, one of the deadliest militant attacks in recent times, triggered heightened security concerns. Another civilian, Shubham Kumar, a migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh, sustained bullet injuries in an attack on October 24 in Pulwama.
On October 24, militants ambushed an Army vehicle in Baramulla, resulting in the deaths of two Army personnel and two civilian porters. This attack highlighted the operational reach of militant groups targeting military convoys.
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From October 28 to October 29, in the Akhnoor Sector of Jammu district, security forces engaged in a prolonged encounter near the Line of Control (LoC), which led to the death of three militants.
In November too, the security situation remained unstable with continued militant attacks. On November 2, security forces conducted operations in Srinagar and Anantnag.
In the Khanyar area of Srinagar, security forces killed Usman, also known as Chota Waleed, a commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
On November 3, near Srinagar’s Tourist Reception Centre, militants threw a grenade at a CRPF bunker, injuring 11 civilians. Among the injured, a woman succumbed to injuries on November 12. This incident prompted an investigation, resulting in the arrest of three over-ground workers linked to a militant group.
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From November 5 to November 7, a series of deadly incidents took place across Kupwara, Reasi, and Sopore. In Kupwara’s Lolab area on November 6, an unidentified militant was killed in an encounter. The following day, militants from the group known as Kashmir Tigers killed two Village Defence Guards, Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, in Adhwari, Kishtwar. On November 8, two unidentified militants were killed in Sopore, where security forces recovered a large cache of weapons.
On November 9, an operation in Rampora, Sopore, led to the death of a militant. The following day, Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army’s special forces, was killed in Keshwan forest, Kishtwar, during a gunfight with militants. In Srinagar district’s Zabarwan forest, security forces launched an operation and trapped two to three militants. However, the operation was called off after the militants managed to escape.