SRINAGAR: With terrorists shifting their focus to the Jammu region and resorting to jungle warfare following drastic decline in their numbers in the Kashmir valley due to a strong anti-terror grid, the role of J&K police —which has lost four of its personnel in the ongoing operation in the forested Sufain area in Kathua district — has become crucial due to its local intel network and understanding of the topography. Even as the Special Operations Group of J&K police took a lead in the operation in Kathua, security experts point out that this should be seen as increased synergy among police, Army and paramilitary forces rather than a change in the strategy against terrorists. The Kathua operation, which began on Sunday with a manhunt for terrorists, saw DGP Nalin Prabhat wielding an AK 47 during the combing operation in Kathua district’s Sanyal village, about 35 km from Sufain.
The infiltrators from Pakistan were seen by some village women, who alerted the police. Commenting on Prabhat leading from the front, former J&K DGP SP Vaid said: “It is a very crucial development.” However, despite having a major role, police would have to rely on increased synergy with Army and other security agencies to tackle terrorism in the Jammu region.
“We are fighting a different kind of terrorism - where someone comes here prepared to die. Remember, it is a covert war from Pakistan,” Vaid said. Why Jammu? Vaid said Pakistan upped the ante in Jammu in the past few years and increa.
