DNA Edit: Mass abductions in J&K – Army must stop terrorists from kidnapping cops’ kin

The recent spate of terrorist attacks on police personnel and the abduction of their family members in Jammu and Kashmir is tragic but not surprising. The attacks serve a dual purpose in that they serve as a warning to the Army and the rest of India that attacks on terrorists’ homes will not be tolerated and second, they serve as a message to Kashmiris that the law and order forces will be unable to save them. This time-tested tactic of ‘shock and awe’ — one now commonly used by terrorists across the world — is a bid to demoralise the people of Kashmir and ensure that local Kashmiris are not emboldened to join the police force. It has to be said here that the targeting of Jammu and Kashmir police force is not a new phenomenon. 

Often, police and security forces have borne the brunt of not just militant but sometimes local anger too as they coordinate operations with the Army to pinpoint terrorist homes. As a result, the spate of killings and now the kidnappings reflect a growing frustration on the part of the terrorists with the actions of the security forces. The other point is that this strategy is a dual-edged sword as people will soon begin to question as to why they are attacking and abducting Kashmiris, the people they claim to be fighting for. The fact that the police forces were even attacked on Eid shows that the terrorists follow no rules. 

But while the Army may extol these positives it must also be aware the people in the Valley are terrified by these recent moves and that counter-measures must be taken quickly and firmly. There is a sense among the people today that militants can abduct them at will, a sense that must not be allowed to prevail. If it does so, the Army could completely lose the faith of the people.