J&K: Terror activities may rise after capital shift

New Delhi: Indian security establishment is bracing itself for an increase in terror activities in Kashmir in coming days by militants as civil secretariat reopens in Srinagar on May 6.

Under “darbar move”  Jammu and Kashmir government functions six months each in Jammu and Srinagar.  The secretariat closed on Saturday in Jammu and will now start functioning from Srinagar.

“The militants are expected to increase their activities in coming days as with shift of secretariat to Srinagar they get more publicity. Till now the government was literally functioning from Jammu. Militants will try to hot up things in coming days in Valley,” said sources in the security agencies.

Militants will also try to give the impression that the government is stalled in the Valley, said sources.

There has been a decline in the local recruitment in Valley in recent months due to successful operations launched against the terrorists.

However, security forces are on guard that this trend doesn’t reverse. “Any spur in militant activities in summer could motivate youngsters to join militant outfits,” said sources.  

In 2019, just 18 local youth joined the militant groups in the Kashmir Valley.  This is a drop from 32 boys joining militancy during the same period in 2018 and 23 in 2017. “Security forces have launched operations to eliminate a number of terrorists. Things have reached a point that now no one is ready to take the leadership of JeM in the Valley,” said sources.