RISE IN VIOLENCE
In the past few days there have been indications that this summer would be very hot as the encounters and gun battles are increasing especially in North Kashmir.
The latest shootout at Handwara in which a civilian was also killed along with 3 CRPF troopers, shows that militancy is showing a visible head in Kupwara, Handwara and other parts of North Kashmir.
Recent media reports in New Delhi based media quoting counter insurgency officials in Jammu and Kashmir have anticipated a hot summer despite beefed up security and ban on internet services. These media reports have indicated that despite ban on 4G services, the graph of militancy will rise in the coming weeks.
If these media reports are to be believed, the officials also expect the insurgency to increase in the north Kashmir region for the first time since the encounter of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016. The northern region had seen relatively lower insurgent activities in the past decade as compared to south Kashmir.
Already people of Kashmir are at the receiving end of the situation since August 5, last year when the central government abrogated article 370 and decided to go for massive deployment of paramilitary forces to contain protests and violence. When in the first few days of March 2020, life was limping back as the government was also lifting the curbs and releasing political prisoners, yet another lockdown was imposed to combat COVID-19 virus.
