New Delhi: Nine terrorists have been killed in south Kashmir’s Shopian district in the last 24 hours in two back-to-back operations, taking the total number of slain terrorists in the union territory this year to 93.
The security forces have not identified or officially given details of the killed terrorists in the last two encounters.
9 #terrorists including two commanders neutralised in less than 24 hrs. Proud of #Team Kashmir which includes JKP and SFs. Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir. @JmuKmrPolice
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) June 8, 2020
According to data maintained by the security forces, the 93 terrorists included those killed during infiltration attempts at the Line of Control (LoC). The data reveals that 77 of the total killed were local terrorists while 10 were foreign. Six remained unidentified.
“The foreign terrorists are very much in the Valley but they are not coming out to prevent Financial Action Task Force scrutiny,” a source in the security establishment said.
Nearly 30 security personnel have also lost their lives in encounters with terrorists or in attacks by terror groups this year. These deaths include that of personnel from the Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Sources said a total of 14 security personnel were killed in anti-terrorism and counter-infiltration operations.
Major terrorists who have been killed include Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo, who had evaded security forces for long.
His death on 6 May was a big success for the security forces. In subsequent encounter on 19 May, the newly appointed deputy chief of the terror group, Junaid Sehrai, son of Tehreek-Hurriyat chairman Ashraf Sehrai, was shot dead in an operation by security forces.
Breaking: Newly appointed Deputy chief of HM terror group, Junaid Sehrai, son of current Hurriyat Chairman, shot dead in an operation by @JmuKmrPolice and @crpfindia. Big success for security forces.
— Snehesh Alex Philip (@sneheshphilip) May 19, 2020
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Monthly figures
According to the data, January witnessed 18 killings of terrorists. The number dropped to seven each in February and March. In April, 28 terrorists were killed while the figure stood at 18 in May.
As of Monday, a total of 15 terrorists have been killed in June, including the nine killed in the last 24 hours.
An analysis of data revealed that maximum number of terrorists killed was from Hizbul Mujahideen, followed by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad — all Pakistan-sponsored terror groups.
The security forces data does not mention the group The Resistant Front (TRF), which has claimed responsibility for many attacks and even claimed bodies of killed terrorists as its own cadres.
ThePrint had reported in April that TRF first surfaced in October 2019, when it claimed responsibility for a grenade attack on CRPF personnel. In March this year, the Jammu and Kashmir Police busted a module of TRF, also known as the JK Fighters.
While initially it was suspected to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, security forces believe it to be yet another proxy of Pakistan to claim attacks done by other organisations.
“The TRF is yet another attempt by Pakistan to give an indigenous spin to what happens in Kashmir. Pakistan wants to escape the scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force. TRF is claiming attacks done by others. They are also being used to attract local recruits,” said a second source.
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