Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), hours after five Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were eliminated by security forces in Kulgam. Among those killed was Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a self-styled commander of the terrorist group, who had been involved in multiple terror-related activities in the south Kashmir region.
The meeting, which marked Shah’s first review since the assembly elections, was attended by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, top officials from the Army, paramilitary forces, J&K administration, intelligence agencies, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Significant Decline in Terror Incidents Post-Article 370 Abrogation
Government data reveals a dramatic decrease in terror incidents in J&K following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. According to statistics compiled by UT police and intelligence agencies, terror violence in the region has significantly reduced. Between April 2, 2014, and July 31, 2019 (pre-abrogation), there were 1,458 terror incidents. In contrast, from August 2019 to December 2, 2024 (post-abrogation), the number dropped to 896.
The number of local terrorists killed has also risen from 420 before the abrogation to 517 after, while incidents involving foreign terrorists have decreased. In the five years following the abrogation, 156 foreign terrorists were killed compared to 469 in the previous five years. This decline is attributed to tighter control over the borders and the Line of Control (LoC), making it harder for terrorists to infiltrate.
Reduced Casualties and Violence
The reduction in terrorist activities has also resulted in fewer casualties. The number of security forces killed in terror attacks decreased from 399 in the pre-abrogation period to 136 in the post-abrogation period. Civilian casualties have similarly decreased, from 256 in the pre-abrogation era to 150 after.
Notable decreases are seen in specific types of attacks, such as grenade attacks, which fell from 284 to 187, and IED blasts, which dropped from 35 to 31. Stand-off firing incidents have also declined by 33%, from 358 to 240 as of November 30, 2024. Civilian casualties and injuries resulting from law and order operations have dropped from 9,599 to just 117 in the same period.
Crackdown on Terrorism and Law and Order
In line with the government’s policy of a “zero-tolerance” approach to terrorism, 1,517 terror suspects and associates have been arrested in the five years following the abrogation, compared to 454 arrests during the pre-abrogation period.
The frequency of strikes and shutdowns has also decreased dramatically, with only one strike (or bandh) taking place in the past five years. The number of organized stone-pelting incidents has fallen sharply, from 6,563 before the abrogation to just 776 in the past five years.
A senior J&K police official emphasized that terrorists will now be treated like common criminals, stating, “Just like you have armed gangs in other parts of India, we will treat the terrorists in J&K the same way. No special status, no martyrdom… just as plain criminals.”
