Series of top huddles in IIOJK fuels fears of fresh Indian misadventure

 SRINAGAR: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a series of high-level situation reviews by Indian police, army and intelligence officials in South Kashmir and Jammu region has triggered fears that New Delhi may be preparing for a fresh misadventure in the territory under the guise of “counter-terror operations”.

According to Kashmir Media Service, India’s Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, chaired a high-level meeting in South Kashmir attended by senior officials of the Indian Army, police, intelligence agencies and paramilitary forces.

The meeting was attended by top officials including the GOC XV Corps, IGP Kashmir Zone, GOC Victor Force and senior officers from the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, intelligence agencies and CAPFs.

The review focused on Islamabad, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts, with discussions centred on intensified anti-resistance operations, intelligence coordination, surveillance and “area domination”.

Officials reviewed operations conducted during recent months and discussed strengthening intelligence networks at the grassroots level, increasing surveillance in areas declared “vulnerable” and ensuring “seamless coordination” among various agencies ahead of the summer season. They also stressed continuation of sustained operations against what they described as the “residual terror ecosystem” and overground workers.

Separately, DIG Shridhar Patil conducted an inspection of police deployments and border posts at Malla Bharore, Jogwan and Pallanwala areas along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu district to assess “operational preparedness” and “border domination measures”.

Political observers and analysts in the occupied territory say the back-to-back reviews, emphasis on “area domination” and heightened border preparedness indicate that India may be laying the groundwork for a possible military misadventure. They noted that in the past, similar multi-agency meetings and intensified border inspections had preceded massive cordon-and-search operations, crackdowns and cross-Line of Control tensions.

They said New Delhi frequently uses the pretext of security and counter-terrorism to justify coercive measures and military actions in the occupied territory, warning that such developments could further worsen the already fragile situation in the region.

Mehbooba questions targeting innocent families through bulldozer campaign

In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has questioned the bulldozer action in the garb of so-called anti-drug campaign, saying the drive is being used as an excuse to economically and socially weaken Kashmiri families.

According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing a party convention in Budgam, Mehbooba Mufti said innocent family members are being punished through demolition of their homes. She said the authorities are destroying houses without considering the suffering of women, children and other relatives living there.

She said those involved in the drug trade should be jailed, but questioned why police officials releasing such suspects after taking bribes were not being held accountable. She termed the demolition drive unjust and said the bulldozer policy was creating fear and insecurity among the people of the territory.

Criticising IIOJK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba said the people had voted for his party with the expectation that it would protect them from coercive policies. She remarked that if people had supported the “bulldozer model”, they would not have elected his government.