Budgam district in Central Kashmir has been witnessing an increase in encounters from last year. Police in the district, are increasing their action to make Budgam a militant free district. As per the police records, seven militants were killed from January to July this year.Officials told KNO that in the four major encounters, Budgam police have successfully killed seven militants in the district, since January 2019, out of seven three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed at Hapatnar area of Charar-e-Shareef .Similarly, on February 13, 2019 in Gopalpora area of Chadoora in Budgam district, a Cordon-and-Search-Operation (CASO) was launched jointly by Police and forces. The militants had triggered the encounter by firing the first shot at the search party, who retaliated, leading to the gunbattle that left the two more militants dead, the duo were associated with the same militant outfit HM.''And on June 28 and June 30, two more militants were killed in two different encounters in Checkpora Kanipora and Bugam Chadoora in mid night gunfights, taking the toll to seven,” he added.Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Budgam, Amod Nagpure told KNO that in the four different encounters, police has put all the efforts to avoid any casualties. “We have almost done all these operations in without any loss; our endeavors are not to harm any innocent.”
Official sources told KNO that in Budgam district, 23 militants were killed since 2017, which include top militant commanders, Naveed Jatt, Abu Ismail, Abu Zarar, Hilal Bhat and Syed Ruban. The top level police brass told KNO that, there are four active militants and 89 Over Ground Workers (OGW) in Budgam district.SSP Budgam, Amod Nagpure further told KNO that “It is not easy to get back youth to mainstream politics but we have been successfully in getting back youth through the proper counseling. We are regularly trying to convenience the parents of the militants to get their wards back.” While the Budgam police is working hard to make Budgam a militant free district, since January, security forces have arrested one Hizb militant. Meanwhile, security officials further see the constant firing by the Pakistani troops along the LoC and IB as a “bid to push in the militants.” The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have increased the vigil along the border to prevent the militants from sneaking in from across the border.“The Kashmir valley had seen heavy incidents of militancy previously, which has been curbed to a larger extend now,” a top level security official told KNO. However, even as the security officials have increased the vigil both along the LoC and IB, they said that the situation was not “as difficult in the region as was for nearly 20 years between 1990 to 2010." (KNO)