Is a Paradigm Shift Underway in Jammu & Kashmir?
Even diehard pessimists can’t deny the reality that militancy has been on decline in the state. Thanks to circumstantial compulsions and intensified security measures that the people have started heaving a sigh of relief. But can the euphoria be enduring – that needs to be realistically assessed. There has been intensification of counter-terrorism operations in the state in view of the forthcoming assembly elections to be held most likely during the period between August and September this year. An alert has also been raised for a possible militant attack targeting Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Security apparatus, who has been taking credit of containing militancy in the state, is grappling with n-number of problems. Suicides and fragging have become so frequent in army in the last few years that the people have started accepting these as norms of military life. During all these years of militancy, there has been gradual increase in crime rate in Kashmir valley, under the garb of mi
