The gunfight between militants and the security forces in Pampore, near Srinagar, that went on for three days since Saturday is a stark reminder that in Jammu and Kashmir embers can flare up any moment, and that with summer approaching there needs to be greater political determination in dealing with law and order. The stand-off started when a group of heavily armed militants opened fire on a convoy, targeting especially a Central Reserve Police Force bus. The CRPF lost head constable driver R.K. Rana, who was driving the bus, and head constable Bhola Singh, while several other jawans were injured. The militants then ran into the compound of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute, along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The gun battle has already resulted in grave and unacceptably high casualties — three Army men, two CRPF personnel and a civilian. What is especially worrying, and must force military planners and the political top brass in New Delhi to sit up and take note, is the death of three elite para commandos of the Army. India cannot afford to keep losing its young men with such dreary frequency.
The attack in Pampore follows a new pattern emerging in Jammu and Kashmir in recent months. Violence had been steadily dwindling until 2014, when for various reasons it picked up pace again in the Valley. In part, it was because the previous United Progressive Alliance government had failed to politically exploit the opening presented by the ebbing of militancy in the State. An all-out effort at that point would have helped the Manmohan Singh government find a possible breakthrough in bringing peace back to Kashmir. That would have entailed an honourable settlement of grievances of all sides, and resulted in ending the deployment of almost half a million Indian soldiers in the State. Unfortunately, the level of violence in Kashmir has been steadily climbing since the Narendra Modi government came to power, but a political opportunity presented itself in early 2015 when, in a master stroke, the Bharatiya Janata Party sewed up a coalition government with the Peoples Democratic Party. That was seen to be the first step in the peace process, bringing political determination on the part of New Delhi behind the PDP’s healing touch. However, the initial efforts have floundered, especially since the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Violence in the State has also steadily increased in recent months, with many incidents claiming an unusually high toll of security forces and civilians. What is most noticeable about the present phase of violence is that many attacks are carried out by home-grown militants, a new wave of youngsters from within the Indian borders who have taken to violence, in recent times. A steady stream of militants infiltrating from Pakistan keeps the pot boiling. All this is happening during Governor’s Rule, while political parties allow the situation to drift in order that they may hammer out a beneficial alliance deal. The Centre and all the stakeholders must address the challenge of the growing alienation among Kashmiris.
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