Srinagar: The increase in the number of terror attacks on the unarmed security persons and civilians suggest that terror outfits operating in the Valley are on their back foot now. 

Sources in the government told MyNation that security agencies were expecting such incidents after the massive success of anti-terror operations in the month of October. 

A senior official in the security agencies, on the condition of an anonymity, told MyNation that before gearing up the ongoing anti-terror operations to a new level, they had a detailed meeting with chiefs of all the security forces operating in the Valley. All were of the view that after taking a tougher stand against the terrorists, the number of incidents of targeting civilians and security personals will go up. 

ADGP law and order, Munir Khan told the media in Srinagar that success in ongoing operations against terrorism is due to a smooth flow of information which shows that local Kashmiris are now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the security forces against the evils of terrorism. Khan termed these attacks on security personals as the ‘frustration’ of terror outfits.

After Khan’s statement, three incidents of violence took place in the Valley. Terrorists on Saturday abducted the owner of the house where three terrorists were gunned down in Kulgam last week. Police sources told MyNation that he was abducted as he was branded as informers of security forces by the local OGWs.

In the second incident, a sub-inspector named Imitiaz Ahmed Mir posted in CID wing of Jammu and Kashmir police was shot dead while he was travelling in his own vehicle in Pulwama. Police confirmed that he was first abducted and then shorted.

Terrorists on late Sunday evening gunned down PDP District President Mohammad Amin Dar resident of Gangbugh near Hyderpora area of Srinagar. Amin was a close ally of former finance minister Altaf Bukhari and a supporter of grassroots level elections.

In 2018, security forces have gunned down 201 terrorists so far, which is more than the number of local youth joining terrorism in Valley. A report suggested that 164 youths have picked up guns this year. Security forces have now shifted their focus to eliminate local recruiters than top terror commanders, as most of the top-rated terror commanders are in hideouts due to regular encounters in the Valley.