Centre orders deployment of two battalions of Assam Rifles to terror-hit Jammu

Srinagar, Aug 03: The centre on Saturday ordered deployment of two battalions (around two-thousand personnel) of Assam Rifles to Jammu region which has seen an increase in terror attacks in recent months.

The moves comes days after when centre moved over two-thousand BSF personnel from Odhisa to the region in the backdrop of recent attacks in Jammu.  

The recent spate of terror attacks in the Jammu region, which had been pronounced a "militancy-free" zone around 15 years ago, has seen the security agencies scrambling for a tough response, reported India Today.

Around 50 highly trained Pakistan based fighters are believed to have infiltrated in the upper reaches of Jammu, including Doda, Rajouri, Udhampur, and other adjacent areas. The move to deploy additional troops is seen as a part of major counter-terror offensive in the otherwise calm Jammu region.

In addition to being highly skilled in armed combats, the infiltrating terrorists are believed to be equipped with some of the most modern and sophisticated weapons, including U.S-made M4 Carbine rifles fitted with night vision devises, sources told India Today.

These highly-trained fighters are said to be responsible for the deaths of nine security personnel in the first three weeks of the month of June this year.

On July 8, four soldiers were killed while six others were injured when terrorists attacked an army convoy in the Kathua area of Jammu. 

The casualty count for this year is rapidly approaching closer to the number of deaths recorded in 2023, which saw 20 deaths of soldiers. Army sources suspect the involvement of Pakistan's elite Special Service Group (SSG) in the terror attack. In addition to Poonch and Rajouri, there have been attacks in Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda. The most recent incident occurred on July 15 in the Dessa Hills of Doda, where four soldiers, including a captain, were killed.

Since the start of this year, 14 terror attacks have taken place across six districts of Jammu region, which have resulted in the deaths of 27 people, including 11 security personnel, a village defence guard, and five terrorists.