Lack of professional policing in the Rajouri-Poonch range is a big internal security concern Part II, Revival of terrorism not tackled strongly; Strong police team badly missed in the R-P range

Lack of professional policing in the Rajouri-Poonch range is a big internal security concern Part II, Revival of terrorism not tackled strongly; Strong police team badly missed in the R-P range

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH/RAJOURI: Earlier, the Poonch-Rajouri range witnessed some strong officers during the crucial time when militancy was at its peak, and those officers did a lot for the nation. It was the fine coordination between different security and intelligence agencies that led to the biggest success for the forces against militancy in the entire Rajouri-Poonch region, which was considered as a hotbed of terrorism after the terrorism of the valley. When the J&K police tasted huge success against militancy in the sensitive border region, there was another challenge waiting for the security forces, and that was from the infiltration of separatist ideology in some pockets of Poonch and Rajouri districts, and to some extent, the agents of the valley-based ideology succeeded in their attempts to disturb peace in the region, but ultimately, they too were crushed strongly.

After the abrogation of temporary articles 370 and 35-A, the district administration of Poonch did a lot and never allowed any type of anti-national activity in the district, which was much expected. Although the authorities were able to establish peace in J&K, the sudden jump in terrorist activities in J&K, particularly big attacks in the Poonch-Rajouri region, surprised everybody. It is important to mention here that the revival of terrorism in the Rajouri-Poonch belt was first witnessed in the month of August 2022, when the nation lost five army soldiers in the Darhal area of the Rajouri district. After that, in October 2021, terrorists struck twice in the Bhimber Gali area of Poonch district, in which many army soldiers attained martyrdom. In the Chamrer (October 11) and Bhatadurian (October 16) terrorist attacks, nine army soldiers sacrificed their lives for the nation. After some days, two army soldiers were killed in the Nowshera sector on the 30th of October 2021. Earlier, ten army soldiers also attained martyrdom in the Kandi and Kalakote areas of the Rajouri district. Then in April 2023, a Rashtriya Rifles truck that was carrying eatables for an Iftar party was ambushed by the terrorists, in which five army soldiers attained martyrdom. The picture of the burning army vehicle that was attacked by the terrorists went viral, and it decreased the morale of the security forces in general and civilians in particular. Terrorists announced their arrival again in the Rajouri-Poonch region on the 22nd of December 2023 with an attack, in which four army soldiers were killed while three were wounded as terrorists ambushed two army vehicles in the Topa Pir area of the DKG. However, attempts were made from some quarters known for their anti-national credentials to defame the army, but those forces were not taken to task for their anti-national stance. Those who were involved in defaming the army were never seen uttering a single word against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for years. Despite witnessing the major terrorist attacks in the region, the J&K police have not brought to justice those who remained part and parcel of all the major attacks. The weak output against terrorism and drug terrorism on the part of police in Rajouri and Poonch districts has decreased the morale of the nationalist forces, especially the minorities who feel that the region is not as safe as the BG-Poonch belt is extremely vulnerable to terrorist attacks. After the investigation was started in the Bhatadurian attack, more than 200 people were questioned by the security forces, but nothing has come into the public domain about the output of the investigation. People feel that BG is the gateway to Poonch, and if the gateway is not safe, then it is a big internal security concern for the people of Poonch, especially the minorities. The inability of DIG R-P range, SSP Rajouri, and SSP Poonch to solve all the major terror cases by strengthening their intelligence network shows that the majority of officers holding positions of importance, due to their lack of professional brilliance and operational capabilities, have failed to formulate a strong strategy against those involved in the revival of terrorism in the region. Even the large number of OGWs of terrorists are still untraceable in the region, and this raised a big question mark on the intelligence networks of the police and other security agencies. It’s a complete indication of the extremely weak operational front in the Rajouri-Poonch range. The Poonch district also witnessed stone-pelting incidents on the houses of minorities in the Khanetar area a few months ago. The blast near the temple at Surankote also raised alarm bells for the security agencies. A few incidents of pasting of posters were also reported in some areas of Poonch that are near the LOC, directing the minorities to leave the area, and these were clear indications that Pakistan wanted to disturb the region again. Years ago, the Bhimber Gali-Surankote area was most vulnerable when militancy was at its peak, and people used to fear threats while crossing the area from BG to Kalai. But after various successful operations launched by the J&K Police and Army, the region was made militancy-free. But during the last few years, attempts were made by Pakistan to disturb the region again, and it’s a challenging task for J&K Police, the Army, and other paramilitary forces to foil the design of the enemy nation because this BG route is the lifeline of Poonch district, and hectic efforts are required to protect this route by launching some strong actions to ensure that Pakistan doesn’t taste success in her attempt to disturb the border region again through its terrorists and sleeper cells, the latter of which seems to be active inside the Indian territory at different places. The non-appearance of a robust operational and intelligence grid of police in the region is a cause of concern for which the government needs to place dedicated police officers with professional brilliance and operational capabilities and also should have an understanding of the emerging security scenario in the Poonch-Rajouri region to ensure peace prevails in the border region by all means. (To be continued…)