Vijay Kumar, a 1997 batch IPS officer, who is serving as Inspector General of Police in Kashmir for the last two years, has experience in handling anti terror operations in Kashmir and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar area of Chhattisgarh. He spoke to Hakeem Irfan Rashid on the ground situation in Kashmir this year.
On the ground situation
There is a difference between rhetorical perception and data-based analysis of situations. There is a significant decrease in incidents of terror, law and order, killings of civilians and Security forces and recruitment into terrorist ranks. Around 70% of the youth who joined terrorist ranks this year were either killed or arrested. We have hosted the President of India, Union Home Minister and around 327 parliamentarians and 75 Union ministers this year, besides several programmes including the airshow without any incident. This reflects that the situation has improved.
On the major challenge police faced
The most important challenge was the funeral of Syed Ali Geelani, Pakistan was also preparing for this day and made public a blueprint regarding the route of his funeral. There was apprehension that more than 100 people will get killed and lakhs will come out. But the management of his burial was exemplary. There was not a single incident of law and order. This is a major indicator of change on the ground. We are thankful to the people. Even if 10,000 people had come out, we would have to use force and then the spiral would have been out of control. These types of incidents make history, so we have to be in control of things. Human life is always a priority for us.
On civilian killings
The situation has improved. Unfortunately, some incidents occurred in Srinagar in October, when soft targets were killed. We have killed or arrested everyone involved in those killings except one. They label civilians as sources of the government forces to legitimise and justify the killing. Terror is a crime and it will remain as long as terrorists are there This is a challenge and we are ready to handle it. Out of 28 security forces killed this year, 20 were policemen and this is worrying. Earlier, they used to target policemen involved in anti-terrorist operations. Now everyone is targetted.
| 2020 | 2021 | |
| Terror incidents in Kashmir | 238 | 182 |
| Civilians Killed | 37 | 34 |
| Armed Forces Martyred | 57 | 28 |
| Law and Order incidents | 147 | 77 |
| Armed forces injured during stone pelting | 126 |
KASHMIR IN 2021
Active TERRORIST
Locals: 90
Foreigners: 70-75
Encounters: 85
Terrorist killed : 162 (145 locals and 17 foreigners)
terror associates arrested: 82 (28 by NIA)
Overgroud Workers arrested: 594 (250 booked under PSA)
UAPA Cases: 438
Weapons Recovered: 277
Pistols: 160
Rifles: 119 (AK47, M4 carbine, SLR, Insas)
Hand Grenade: 350
IBGL: 9
UBGL shells: 86
RPG launcher: 1