MHA data reveals significant improvement in security situation in J&K

Srinagar, Aug 4: The Union Government has time and again asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 was pivotal in dismantling the secessionist sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir, paving the way for a significant reduction in terrorism.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act not only abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, but also bifurcated the state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The Union Government has staunchly defended this decision, arguing that it was essential to curb corruption and terrorism. In contrast, opposition parties and political leaders from Kashmir have denounced the move as an injustice and a breach of trust by the government, the claim vehemently denied by the central Government, particularly by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Despite this, the Centre maintains that the abrogation has led to notable improvements in security and governance.

There is no denying the fact that there is a significant decline in terrorism with visible  reduction in terrorist incidents, a decrease in civilian deaths, and a decline in security force casualties between the UPA (2004-2014) and NDA (2014-2023) periods.

Data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) supports these claims. Incidents of stone pelting have dramatically fallen, with 618 recorded in January-July 2019, dropping to just to none in 2024. Injuries to security forces and civilians due to these incidents have also significantly decreased.

Official records suggest that there were 2,654 incidents of organised stone pelting in 2010, which has come down to zero in 2024. There were 132 incidents of organised strikes in 2010 but not a single incident took place in 2024.

There were, records suggest,  112 civilian deaths in stone pelting in 2010 but not a single civilian died in 2024. In 2010, the number of civilians injured in stone pelting was 6,235 but no one was injured in such an incident this year.

The reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—led to the extension of India's legal and constitutional framework uniformly across these regions. For the police, this meant more unified jurisdiction and better coordination with law enforcement agencies nationwide.

"The era of bomb blasts, firings, stone-pelting and shutdowns has been replaced by education, schools, colleges, medical colleges, management institutions, industries and infrastructure. This is a big change that Jammu and Kashmir is going through," said a senior MHA official.

The revocation allowed central security forces to be deployed more effectively, providing them with broader powers to tackle insurgency and maintain law and order.

Increased investments in infrastructure improved the police's operational capabilities and accessibility to remote areas.

The police forces in Jammu and Kashmir were integrated with national databases, enhancing crime detection and criminal identification capabilities.

An analysis of some security indicators reveals a significant improvement in the overall security landscape post-abrogation

One of the most significant changes was the 99% decrease in stone pelting incidents, from 5050 pre-abrogation to almost zero post-abrogation.

Hartal and bandh calls decreased by 100%, from 302 pre-abrogation to zero now.

The comparative analysis of some indicators reveals a positive impact on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.

Significant decreases in security incidents such as grenade attacks, IED blasts, stone pelting, and civilian casualties highlight an improvement in public safety and the overall security landscape.

Several measures have contributed to this apparent stability. The crackdown on Hurriyat leaders and terror financing by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been instrumental. NIA has registered several cases of terror financing, with scores of arrests made.

Besides J&K Police and NIA, the anti-terror arm of J&K Police, State Investigation Agency has broken the back of terrorism and secessionism in Union Territory. The agency investigated various cases and arrested several people. Besides, SIA has also unearthed several cases of terror funding and have arrested those involved.

The government has responded with stringent measures, including crackdowns on non-governmental organisations promoting secessionist sentiments and the arrest of over-ground workers of terrorist groups.

What has also worked, sources in the security establishment said, is the government decision to lodge those accused of stone pelting in various jails. The hardships associated with it, including being far away from home, has deterred the young from picking up stones, said sources.