Over the last 32 months 44 soldiers have died in the Jammu region, which was believed to be free from terrorism. After almost every attack, the terrorists manage to escape without any casualty.
The Kathua Attack
The terror attack in J&K's Kathua on Monday afternoon, in which 5 soldiers died and 5 others injured, was a coordinated strike on two trucks carrying at least 12 troops. The ambush occurred from a hilltop near Badnote village, 150 kilometers from Kathua town.
The terrorists targeted the trucks, which were around 500 metres apart, with grenades and, in worrying signs, used armour-piercing bullets (i.e., those tipped with hardened steel) and an M4 assault rifle. It looked like the ambush was meticulously planned, with the terrorists fleeing into a nearby forest before reinforcements could arrive.
Recent Terr0r Activities In The Region
Terrorist attacks in the Jammu region have escalated in recent weeks. Monday’s attack marks the fifth major terror-related incident in the region within the last 45 days. The June 9 Reasi attack and on June 12 and June 14, two terrorists executed and a CRPF jawan died in a gunfight during a search and cordon operation in Kathua.
Then the Kulgam encounter over this weekend where 6 militants were executed and 2 soldiers died in two separate gunfights between security forces and militants. Last evening an encounter erupted between security forces and terrorists in the Doda district, leading to heightened military activity in the region.
Where Have They Come From?
There are reports over 60 foreign terrorists - trained in jungle warfare - may be operating in the Jammu region alone, even as the shadow of fear has spread across all 10 districts of the province.
After twin attacks in Rajouri (in November and December), the Army said the foreign terrorists may have been trained in different countries, like Afghanistan and Pakistan. Besides state-of-the-art weapons, they are equipped with mini-satellite comm systems that are difficult to intercept.
Fight Against Terror In the Last Stage?
Last week Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament the fight against terr0rism in J&K is in its last stage, and that a multi-pronged strategy had been adopted to destroy the remaining network.
"Our fight against terr0rism in Jammu and Kashmir, in a way, is in its last stage. We are moving with a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the remaining terror network there," PM Modi had said.
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