The central government on Saturday ordered the deployment of two battalions (around 2,000 personnel) of Assam Rifles to the Jammu region, which has seen an increase in terror attacks in recent months.
This move comes shortly after the center moved over 2,000 BSF personnel from Odisha to the region in response to recent attacks in the plains of Jammu. The recent spate of terror attacks in the Jammu region, which had been pronounced a “militancy-free” zone around 15 years ago, has seen security agencies scrambling for a tough response, reported India Today.
Around 50 highly trained Pakistan-based fighters are believed to have infiltrated the upper reaches of Jammu, including Doda, Rajouri, Udhampur, and other adjacent areas. The deployment of additional troops is seen as a part of major counter-terror operations in the otherwise calm Jammu region.
These infiltrating terrorists are not only highly skilled in armed combat but are also believed to be equipped with some of the most modern and sophisticated weapons, including U.S.-made M4 Carbine rifles fitted with night vision devices, sources told India Today.
These highly-trained fighters are said to be responsible for the deaths of nine security forces in the first three weeks of June this year. On July 8, four soldiers were killed and six others injured when terrorists attacked an army convoy in the Kathua area of Jammu.
The casualty count for this year is rapidly approaching the number of deaths recorded in 2023, which saw 20 deaths of soldiers. Army sources suspect the involvement of Pakistan’s elite Special Service Group (SSG) in the terror attacks. In addition to Poonch and Rajouri, there have been attacks in Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda. The most recent incident occurred on July 15 in the Dessa Hills of Doda, where four soldiers, including a captain, were killed.
Since the start of this year, 14 terror attacks have taken place across six districts of the otherwise peaceful Jammu region, resulting in the deaths of 27 people, including 11 security personnel, a village defense guard, and five terrorists.
