Last week witnessed a series of brutal attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. From June 9 to 12, militants carried out four attacks in the Jammu region, with three occurring within a 24-hour period.
Another attack took place in Bandipora in the Kashmir region on June 17.
The violence began in Reasi district on June 9 when terrorists targeted a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine. The bus driver lost control, resulting in the deaths of nine people and injuries to 33 others.
The Reasi attack occurred around 6:15 p.m., just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third consecutive term inauguration in New Delhi.
Following this, three additional attacks occurred on June 11-12, including one in Kathua village near the India-Pakistan International Border. These incidents have raised concerns within India’s security establishment.
Since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy in 2019, the Modi government has intensified its efforts against militants and separatist groups in the region. This has led to a shift in militant activities from Kashmir to the Jammu region, which had previously been relatively free of militancy for over a decade.
These attacks in Jammu have triggered fears of communal riots, given the region’s diverse population compared to the predominantly Muslim Kashmir Valley.
Terrorist attacks targeting civilians in Jammu have historically aimed to stoke communal tensions, as seen in past incidents like the Kishtwar bus attack in 1993 and the beheadings in Udhampur district in 1998.
The recent attack on a passenger bus in Reasi is particularly concerning due to its potential to escalate communal violence, especially with the upcoming Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage. Security concerns for the Yatra are compounded by past attacks on pilgrims, such as the 2017 incident where seven were killed.
Moreover, as Jammu and Kashmir prepares for upcoming assembly elections, ongoing terrorist activities could hamper the electoral process and provide an excuse for the government to delay the elections further.