Amid a spurt in terrorist violence after the Centre announced a unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday accused the militants of “desperately trying to sabotage the process”.
Mehbooba reflected her concern over the situation in a tweet a day ahead of the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Jammu and Kashmir. Rajnath will be taking stock of the ground situation after the unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir for the month of Ramzan announced by him.
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He is reaching Srinagar on 7 June to discuss the situation with the top brass of security forces, intelligence agencies and others.
Mehbooba tweeted on Wednesday: “Even as we see the ceasefire bringing great relief to the people of J&K, militants seem to be continuing their violent activities & desperately trying to sabotage the process. I only hope that they realize the futility of their actions soon.”
Mehbooba’s tweet is being seen in context with her yearning for extension of the ceasefire even beyond the holy month of Ramzan.
However, political observers feel Rajnath might not extend the ceasefire without taking the feedback of the security forces on the ground as the Modi government is already facing criticism for having “tied” the hands of the Army and central security forces by announcing the unilateral ceasefire. Moreover, the two-month Amarnath pilgrimage is also beginning on 28 June in south Kashmir.
Defence experts have also pointed out that the biggest setback of the ceasefire was that the terrorists who were on the run during the ongoing “Operation Allout”, have got an opportunity to regroup, rearm and also recruit Kashmiri youth in terror outfits. More than 68 top terrorists, including some Pakistani commanders of various terror outfits, were killed in the first four months of the current year before the ceasefire was suddenly announced.
Taking advantage of the unilateral ceasefire, terrorists have started openly coming out in public places in Kashmir and making attempts to snatch weapons of security force personnel. They attacked with Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) an Army post on Tuesday night in Hajin where at least eight civilians were brutally butchered by terrorists during the past few days. Terrorists are also on a grenade blasting spree, particularly in the south Kashmir where the “Operation Allout” of the Army was concentrated.
In a tweet apparently aimed at Minister of State in the PMO Jitendera Singh, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said: “Terrorist attack on army camp, IED attack against army vehicle, 10+ grenade attacks in recent days. Who was it who was saying militancy in Kashmir is dying & in its last stages?”