Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists target civilians to fan ‘red wave’
By Our Special Correspondent
National angst over the film Kashmir Files may have limits within the four walls of the cinema halls, for the targeted killings by terrorists is back in the Kashmir valley.
On Thursday, terrorists gunned down a bank manager in Kulgam in Kashmir valley. Vinay Kumar, the bank manager, was killed by the terrorists. He hailed from Rajasthan.
Seven civilians were killed by terrorists in May in the Kashmir valley. Reports claimed that 17 civilians fell to the targeted killings, with victims being Kashmiri Pandits, social influencers, off-duty policemen. The pattern of targeted killings by terrorists began first with migrant workers, who were daily-wagers.
The uptick in killings of the civilians by terrorists has come amid reports that terrorists have sourced pistols, including made in the US, in a large number. Terrorists are calling the spate of killings ‘wazul waav (red wave)’. This is a marked departure in the strategy of terrorists in the Kashmir valley after facing heavy casualty in the recent on the back of massive crackdown against them by the security forces.
A teacher, Rajni Bala, who was going to her school, was shot dead by the terrorists this week. Rahul Bhat, who worked for J&K administration, was earlier shot dead. His killing set off social media outbursts among the Kashmiri Pandits, who also hit the street in the valley to protest against his killing. He lived in a transit camp.
Kashmiri Pandits are livid over the killings. Senior journalist and a prominent Kashmiri face in the national capital Sanjay Kaw shared a video on his twitter line wherein the people claimed to be planning to leave the valley. The Kashmiri Pandits in the video claimed to be arranging for transport for ‘palayan (exodus)’.
Amreena Bhat, a popular television actor, was shot dead outside her house by terrorists last month. Last year, Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah had visited the residence of the slain J&K police inspector Parvaiz Ahmad, who had also been shot dead by terrorists, while he was off-duty.
Last year, the security agencies had eliminated a total of 182 terrorists. Thirty five civilians had fallen victims to the terrorists. This year so far 94 terrorists have been killed. Seventeen civilians have been killed by terrorists so far in the valley.
The spotlight is back on the killings of civilians by terrorists in the Kashmir valley at a time when Amarnath Yatra is set to commence from June 30. The daily ceiling for the pilgrims will be 10,000. In Uttarakhand, it has been seen that the daily limit in the Char Dham Yatra wasn’t seen to be working on the ground. On the lines of Char Dham Yatra, Amarnath Yatra, which is resuming after a gap of two years, is also likely to get an overwhelming response.
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