Web Desk, 12 September, 2016: Unable to restore normalcy in turbulent Kashmir since the encounter death of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8, the Centre has finally drawn the redlines to quell the unrest in the shortest possible time through a substantial surge of security forces. Sources said the government has drawn up plans to silence the violent protests within two weeks by carrying out intelligence-based counter intelligence operations (CI Ops) to weed out the militants who, exploiting the over two-month-long unrest, have milled among the protestors. The government move follows a briefing by intelligence agencies that the protests are increasingly having religious overtones that may prepare a fertile ground for IS elements.
The Army is concentrating in south Kashmir first since there is a total erosion of the state machinery as the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have vacated their stations and camps for fear of being overrun by the violent mob of protestors.
"Our analysis shows that most of the violent protests in south Kashmir coincide with the movement of terrorists as much of the stone-pelting is being organised and encouraged by militants who have infiltrated," a top security official said.
At the same time, the Army will increase its vigilance and mount CI Ops along the Line of Control (LoC) and villages and towns close to it to stop further infiltration of militant and terrorists from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to estimates by security agencies, the unrest has proved counterproductive to check infiltration due to the Army's repositioning in some areas.
"The Army would be withdrawn to the barracks once the law-and-order situation is restored and the state police and CRPF get back to their usual role by reclaiming positions. This should not take more than two weeks," sources added.
While dealing tough with the "trouble maker" resistance groups, the government has asked the administration to show compassion to the "gullible youth" who have been instigated to join the protests but do not have any criminal background otherwise.
Trying to widen the government's outreach effort, Union home minister Rajnath Singh has ordered an inter-ministerial committee to resolve the grievances of students from J&K studying outside the state.
As per government estimates, about 9,000 students from J&K are availing the Prime Minister's scholarship scheme. Some students had complained that their scholarship money was not being released. Officials said that, in most cases, the money was not released because of incomplete forms and admissions in institutes which are not recognised.
Rajnath Singh and human resources development minister Prakash Javadekar met about 30 students on September 7. The next day, the students met the AICTE chairman who has asked institutes to ensure that studies of these students are not discontinued for want of scholarship money.
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