Yearender 2018: Kashmir suffered worst bloodshed in a decade this year

The ruthless military approach, increased violence, political uncertainty and the lowest economic activity - the terror-infected Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir suffered the worst bloodshed in at least a decade in 2018. Currently under the President’s rule, Kashmir has been affected by terrorist activities sponsored and supported from both inside and across the border. News of suffering and pain of Kashmiri people surrounding the death of their loved ones kept the state under the national and international media vigil. In 2018, as per the official Home Ministry data, the death toll of militants and security forces in Kashmir was the highest in the last 10 years. In as many as 587 incidents, 238 terrorists were killed, while 86 security personnel lost their lives. The government figure says there were 37 civilian causalities, but human rights groups claim the fatalities were over 100.

Political uncertainty

As the half of year passed, political uncertainty gripped the Jammu and Kashmir after the fall of Mehbooba Mufti-led government. On June 19, the BJP broke its "unholy" alliance with the PDP, following which the Mufti government collapsed. The BJP had alleged that it became "untenable" for it to stay in the alliance. The saffron party cited several reasons for its breakup with the PDP which included an upsurge in violence in the Valley and the state government "failing in its responsibilities". Following the Mufti government’s fall, the Governor’s rule was imposed in the state under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

Opposition parties - the National Conference (NC) and the Congress demanded the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and sought re-elections at the earliest. However, their demands fell to the deaf ears until they decided to stake claim to form the government. On Number 22, Governor Satya Pal Malik ordered the sudden dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly after rival political combines (the PDP, the NC and the Congress) said they would stake claim to form the government.

On December 19, after the completion of six months under the Governor’s rule, President Ram Nath Kovind imposed president’s rule in the state. This was the first time since 1996 the President’s rule was imposed in the state. Jammu and Kashmir is still under the Centre’s rule and experts believe the political crisis in the state is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Kidnapping and killing of security personnel

The year 2018 also witnessed several incidents of attack on Kashmiri security personnel and their family members by terrorists, a trend which the state wasn’t aware of before. In June, Army soldier Aurangzeb was abducted by terrorists while he was going home for Eid in Shopian. Later, his bullet-ridden body was recovered from a Pulwama village. In August, 11 family members of policemen were abducted in a bid to scare and demoralise security personnel. However, the family members were later released unharmed.

On September 17, three gunmen barged into the house of Army man Mukhtar Ahmed Wani and shot him dead. Wani had gone to his home to mourn his 16-year-old son who had died in a road accident. Terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen had issued a threat to Jammu and Kashmir special police officers to quit their job before September 19. However, expect a few isolated resignations, the warning could not move the police personnel from their resolve. On November 21, just two days after the deadline ended, three policemen were kidnapped and killed by terrorists.