In the recent weeks a new urgency has been discovered with regard to the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir .This is a good news as the leadership at the national level has not lost sight of the new security challenges facing this Union Territory. It has shown increasing awareness and responsibility in pushing the security issues to the point where it can rid J&K of all its dangers.
What is important is that , the national leaders, in particular Prime Minister and Home Minister, despite celebrating the fact of 70 per cent decline in the terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, have not given up the idea of securing 100 percent success. They have not stopped their efforts that are why there are regular assessment and re-assessment of the situation with regard to J&K. There were two options before the Government to allow the things to take a natural course after 70 percent success, which is quite high in terms of statistics and its delivery on the ground, or to put in extra efforts to cover the rest of the 30 per cent of uncovered terrain. The PM and HM have chosen the latter approach.
News Analysis
Within J&K, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is responsible to address the whole spectrum of the security challenges, has been reviewing the security situation on a regular basis. This has become a guidepost for tackling the externally-inspired threats and the internal dimensions of it. Manoj Sinha has a knack, and has sharpened it further ever since he took office on August 7, 2020, a year after the abrogation of Article 370.
His mantras were clear: “We will not buy peace but establish it,” and that no mercy would be shown to terrorists, their facilitators and sympathizers in tune with the overarching strategy of zero tolerance of terrorism. For the first time in the history of terrorism battered J&K, an assault was launched on the ecosystem in which various wings of the system and outside of it formed the structure from foundation to top. Sinha, when seen in this role, was and is performing a national duty assigned to him, to take care of J&K internally and integrate it with the national mainstream.
While reviewing function of the Home Department of the UT of J&K, the Lieutenant Governor listed a host of tasks to the police – asking it to modernize itself to meet challenges of future. J&K police have a special responsibility in dealing with the challenges that have cropped up in this territory over the decades. The turbulent history of J&K coupled with the external threats has made it vulnerable to destabilization. The police have played a critical role since 1990s to take on terrorists and saving the place from many of the potential attacks.
There is a need to understand that J&K police is not what it was when the militancy erupted in late 1988-89. It has now come to play a frontline role in fighting and eliminating terrorists. This is something which was unthinkable in 1989 when Kashmir erupted to the surprise and shock of all security agencies. The Police were no exception. The police had its local orientation, it had its advantages but also its vulnerabilities to pressures of the local environment of the day. At that stage, too, the police summoned its strength and helped in securing VIPs, officialdom and leaders. It was no mean task because even a single killing of a VIP and official would strengthen the adversary drawing its inspiration and encouragement from Pakistan. But the police took its frontline in late 1990s. It became more pronounced in early 200s and magnified in 2012 onwards. The police leadership made the difference.
As it is evident from the contents that have surfaced after the Tuesday’s meeting, this role has become more challenging .Today Artificial Intelligence, Cyber world, and the new narratives have become bigger challenges. The police have not only to shoulder the responsibility of shielding and saving the population from externally sponsored elements and devices, but also to neutralize the internal dynamics. The cops have to stay ahead of their adversaries, and enemies of the nation, by miles to beat them. That’s where LG Sinha’s call for modernization holds greater relevance.
