Valley’s security tightened amid spate of attacks

With the Valley seeing a sudden surge in militant attacks — six incidents have taken place since October 18 — the security has been tightened in the area.

Sources said the security grid had been put on alert in the districts falling in the Valley. “All required security measures are being taken and patrolling has been intensified,” said a police official.

The sources said instructions had been issued to officers to work towards generating inputs for tracking militants. Three militants were killed and four security personnel injured in twin anti-militancy operations in the Valley on Saturday.

There have been six militancy-related incidents in the Valley from October 18 till November 1. Two non-local workers were shot at and injured in a militant attack in Central Kashmir’s Budgam on Friday. The same evening, militants and the Army exchanged fire in Bandipora district. Two soldiers and two civilian porters were killed, while three jawans were injured after an Army vehicle was attacked by terrorists near the famous tourist resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district last week.

On October 24, militants shot at and injured a labourer from Uttar Pradesh in Tral.

On October 20, militants targeted construction workers in Ganderbal. Seven persons, including a doctor, were killed. The TRF, a shadow outfit of the LeT, had claimed responsibility for the attack. On October 18, a migrant worker from Bihar was shot dead in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Former J&K DGP K Rajendra Kumar told The Tribune on Saturday that these incidents couldn’t have taken place without Pakistan’s help. He said Pakistan had been making efforts to disrupt peace in the Valley. “When pressure is mounted on terrorists, they lie low and wait for more infiltrators to come in… this is a continuous process…,” he said. He said there was need for a continuous vigil to track militants. “We cannot be complacent… life has to go on,” he said.