The killing of three Border Security forces men in Bijbehara, the Chief Minister’s constituency, of South Kashmir seems to be a fertile ground for the militants and their sympathisers. The attack on BSF convoy carrying jawans who were returning from leave after a police and army convoys passed through the area shows the terrorists still hold the advantage of selecting the target and Saturday’s attack is not a case of random one. Considered a highly political sensitive area of the Valley, South Kashmir is fast turning into a virtual breeding ground for militants with many youths joining their rank and file or becoming their sympathisers. Better intelligence network of terrorists, assistance of people to local terrorists, heavy turnouts at the funerals of militants and stone-pelting on security forces even during encounters has virtually become a routine affair in the region. Comprising of four districts– Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian– South Kashmir has been on the boil ever since Chief Commander of banned Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) group Abu Qassim was gunned down in a fierce encounter in November last year. This area also saw some new developments with glorification of militants killed in encounters with the security forces. The new developments include firing in air as a “salute to the killed terrorists” and prominent militants attending the funeral of killed ultras, with the police and security forces remaining mere spectators. The worst-hit areas are Heff-Shrimal in Shopian District, Samboora, Lillahar, Pulwama town and Tral of Pulwama District, Qaimooh and Redhwani in Kulgam District and Redhwani in Anantnag District. These are the areas which are dotted with apple orchards and lead to dense forests where militants are holed up, the officials said, adding that in case the army mounts pressure on one side, they escape and mingle with the local population on the other. The intelligence network of the militant groups, which had ended in mid-1990’s, is understood to have been revived again and the terrorists come to know about the advance of security forces, giving them an advantage to flee the area. With the annual Amarnath Yatra scheduled for 2nd July terror organisations may try to create trouble to get fame and name. So caution is needed in coming days.
