A string of terror attacks in Rajouri district are a clear indication of Pakistani agencies trying to revive terrorism in the areas of Jammu division that were declared terror-free a few years ago.

The twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch along the Line of Control (LoC) have witnessed terror strikes and seizure of caches of arms and ammunition during the past few days. Civilians and Army soldiers lost their lives in these terror incidents.

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Among the recent terror strikes in Rajouri are the killing of two civilians near the gate of a military hospital. This triggered widespread protests in the town. Five Army soldiers and two terrorists were killed in a long-stretched encounter in August last year after the terrorists attacked an Army camp.

The police station at Kotranka was twice targeted by terrorists and blasts triggered near hutments of outside labourers. Budhal town also witnessed terror explosions.

In an incident that embarrassed the BJP, Talib Hussain, one of its office bearers in Rajouri, turned out to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander of Peerpanjal area and was arrested along with another terrorist in Reasi in July last year.

Hussain was tasked by Pakistani handlers to revive terrorism in Rajouri and Poonch districts. Two AK rifles, seven grenades, a pistol and a huge quantity of ammunition were recovered from their possession.

During the peak of terrorism, Rajouri and Poonch were considered as the entry point of trained terrorists to J&K from the launchpads along the LoC in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

The recent terror strikes in Rajouri and Poonch and also in Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of the Jammu division indicate that attempts are being made to revive militancy in these areas.

The year 2022 ended with the killing of four heavily armed terrorists in Jammu and the new year has started with the targeted terror attack in Rajouri.

The Rajouri terror attack has been condemned by all political parties. Criticizing the attack, MP and National Conference chief Dr Farooq Abdullah said: “Very sad that innocents are being killed. Terrorism is on rise in J&K. The government should come up with some tangible plan to safeguard people.”

PDP leader and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said: “Despite being under the BJP rule and its bogus claims of ending militancy, violence continues unabated.”

Meanwhile, the Congress party claimed that its working president Raman Bhalla and former MLC Ravinder Sharma along with other activists were not allowed to go to Rajouri to express solidarity with the victims. Only the BJP leaders and activists were allowed to proceed to Rajouri, they claimed.