New Delhi – The Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a troubling surge in terrorist activities over the past year, with official figures confirming that 44 lives have been lost to violence. Security officials reported on Monday that eight out of ten districts in the Jammu division have been targeted by terrorists, leading to significant casualties among both civilians and military personnel. Among the fatalities, three districts—Doda, Kathua, and Reasi—each recorded nine deaths due to terror attacks this year. Kishtwar reported five fatalities, Udhampur four, and both Jammu and Rajouri experienced three fatalities each. Additionally, two lives were lost in Poonch. The toll includes 18 soldiers who were martyred, 13 terrorists eliminated during counter-terror operations, and 14 civilian casualties, which notably included seven pilgrims and three village guardians.
The year has been marked by increased assaults against security forces and civilians in the Rajouri and Poonch districts, particularly along the Line of Control. However, measures implemented by security forces have reportedly curtailed the frequency of these attacks in these areas throughout 2024. In contrast, following the onset of warmer weather in April and May, terrorist attacks spiked in districts such as Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur, and Jammu, raising alarms among security agencies. In response to the escalating threat, the Army has announced coordinated operations with local police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to thwart the plans of terrorist masterminds believed to be operating from Pakistan, who are attempting to destabilize the previously peaceful areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
These operations are particularly focused on vulnerable regions like dense forests, where terrorists are suspected to be hiding. The recent violence also led to a search operation following the murder of two village guards in Kishtwar last week. An encounter with terrorists in the Kishwan forest area resulted in the martyrdom of Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, alongside injuries to three other soldiers. The search for terrorists believed to be hiding in the Awati area, including Keswan and Kuntwara forests, has been ongoing for four days. This uptick in terrorist activities marks a significant shift from a decade ago when the Jammu region was relatively peaceful amid the turmoil affecting Kashmir. However, since October 2021, there has been a notable increase in attacks targeting military vehicles in the Rajouri and Poonch areas, which has claimed the lives of 47 soldiers. As the search for terrorists continues, the situation in Jammu remains tense, with security forces committed to restoring peace and stability in the region.