Killings, violence, stone pelting, hartals significantly down
Terror recruitment, hit & run cases, grenade attacks too decline
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 4: Security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir has undergone sea change post abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India with all kind of terror-related violence witnessing steep decline giving people a strong relief on all fronts. Scrapping of special status of J&K will complete four years tomorrow as it was on August 5, 2019 that a bill to this effect was introduced in Parliament by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
A comparative study of pre and post abrogation of Article 370 has revealed that security scenario has witnessed significant improvement in Jammu and Kashmir due to decline in all kind of terror violence.
“There has been a notable decrease in various security-related incidents including grenade attacks, IED blasts, stone pelting and civilian casualties in J&K. The decrease reflects a positive impact on public safety with a reduced threat from these incidents,” the report said.
Additionally, it added, stand-off fire and hit and run cases, weapon snatching, hartal/bandh calls, encounters and incidents of arson have also seen significant decrease.
The security scenario report analyzed impact of Article 370 abrogation on security situation of Jammu and Kashmir. It examined 17 security indicators related to various incidents and provided comparative analysis between pre-and-post-370 periods. The findings revealed decrease in most indicators showing an improvement in overall security landscape.
“There has been a decrease in civilian and security forces fatalities and injuries highlighting enhanced security measures and reduced risk for both civilians and jawans,” the report said and revealed decrease in terror recruitment and increase in arrest of terrorists, their associates and suspects which made positive impact in disrupting terrorist ecosystem.
Overall, it said, security scenario post Article 370 abrogation demonstrates notable progress in ensuring public safety, mitigating security threats and maintaining stability in the Union Territory.
At the same time, the report cautioned that increase in arrests related to terrorists and their associates emphasized continued need for vigilant efforts in counter-terrorism operations and intelligence gathering.
“A sustained focus on implementing effective security measures, enhancing community engagement and ongoing monitoring of security indicators will be essential to maintain and further improve security situation,” the report said.
Stone pelting incidents which used to create major law and order problem in the Kashmir Valley prior to abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir recorded massive 92 percent decline from 5050 to 445. The decrease signifies improved public order and more peaceful environment, the report said.
Similarly, the hartal/bandh calls were also down from 302 to 31, which too was a massive 90 percent decrease indicating improved socio-political stability and reduced impact on daily activities due to strikes or shutdowns, it added.
“Encounters and counter-terrorism operations decreased from 539 in pre-370 four years to 369 in post-abrogation of four years, which too accounted for 32 percent decline. This decline suggests positive impact on region’s security with fewer instances of confrontations between security forces and militants,” the report said.
Killing of civilians also registered decline from 155 to 138 which was possible due to more effective counter-terrorism strategy to protect civilians, it said, adding not even a single civilian was killed during maintenance of law and order while the figure was 132 in four years prior to abrogation of Article 370. Number of injured civilians drastically came down from 9303 to 117.
According to the report, number of security personnel attaining martyrdom in Jammu and Kashmir also decreased significantly from 345 to 150, a decline of 57 percent. Number of injuries to police/security personnel also came down from 13,100 to 797, down by 84 percent.
Terror recruitment which was also a major headache for security agencies too has gown down from 550 in four years before scrapping of special status of erstwhile State to 448 during four years after abrogation of Article 370. On the other, number of arrests related to terrorists, terror associates and suspects increased significantly from 1584 to 2504, an increase of 58 percent.
This increase, as per the report, suggests improved intelligence gathering, proactive measures and an effective approach to counter-terrorism operations.
Incidents of kidnappings also reduced from 28 to nine while instances of arson went down from 87 to 35, the report said.
As per the report, during four years of pre-Article 370 abrogation, J&K witnessed 162 grenade attacks which came down to 138 in four years of post—abrogation of special status. The decrease of 15 percent suggests positive impact on public safety and threat posed by grenade attacks, it said.
The IED blasts remained static at 19 because of improved security measures, intelligence gathering and more effective counter-terrorism approach. Casualties in IED explosions, however, came down from 57 to just 13, a remarkable 77 percent decline.
Stand-off Fire/Hit &Run Cases too came down from 314 during four years of pre-370 abrogation period to 181 in post-scrapping time, again a 42 percent decline. Weapon snatching was also significantly reduced from 45 to 14.
“The abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was a historic and contentious move that took place on August 5, 2019. Article 370 had granted the region a special autonomous status within India, allowing it to have its own constitution, flag, and significant administrative powers. However, citing the need for greater integration and development of the region, the Indian government, decided to revoke this constitutional provision.
“The move was met with both strong support and vehement opposition, sparking debates on Constitutional law, the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and the political dynamics of the region. The abrogation of Article 370 marked a significant shift in the region’s political landscape, with potential implications for the socio-political future of Jammu and Kashmir and its relations with the rest of India,” the report said.
“After the revocation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into two union territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. This led to the extension of the Indian legal and constitutional framework uniformly across these regions. For the police, it means a more unified jurisdiction and seamless coordination with law enforcement agencies from other parts of the country,” the report said.
It added that the revocation was aimed to bring about better security and counter-terrorism measures in the region. This move allowed Central security forces to be deployed more effectively and provided them with broader powers to tackle insurgency and maintain law and order.
“The Central Government’s focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s development post the revocation led to increased investments in infrastructure, which may have improved the police’s operational capabilities and accessibility to remote areas.
The revocation also facilitated the integration of Jammu and Kashmir’s police forces with national databases, such as criminal records, wanted lists, and other information, allowing for better crime detection and criminal identification, the report said.
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