ARMY'S RESPONSE TO JAMMU TERROR THREAT UNDER SCRUTINY

The attacks are not being launched sporadically. A lot of thinking is going on when deciding on the date and the target of the attack.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The security forces suffered more than 1,500 fatalities in the preceding three years in Jammu and Kashmir at the hands of Pakistan-backed and -based terrorists, when the Indian Army, under the command of the then Chief of Army Staff General N.C. Vij, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sometime in the starting days of 2003, decided to launch a military operation at Hilaka, Surankote block, Poonch district in the southeastern slopes of the Pir Panjal range which separates Srinagar valley from Jammu.

Intelligence gathered over time had indicated the presence of a large number of terrorists who had become so emboldened that they had built temporary structures for accommodation from which they would emerge, engage the security forces and disappear again.

The said area was less than 15 km from the Line of Control and according to local journalists, had been under the virtual domination of members of terror groups and their sympathisers since 1999.

The intelligence report, at the time, had estimated that terrorists in the range of 3,000-3,500 numbers were moving from Jammu to Kashmir and vice-versa with at least 2,000 waiting at their launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir while waiting for their turn to enter into India.

This operation, named “Sarp Vinash” (Eliminate Snakes) was executed with the strength of a division size formation (around 15,000 combat forces and 8,000 support staff) which involved men from seven battalions and two brigades. The jawans and the commanders that took part in the operation were from the 9 Para Special Forces, 163 Infantry Brigade, 12/4 Gorkha Rifles, 15 Garhwal Rifles, 4 Garhwal Rifles, 12, 16 and 20 Rashtriya Rifles.

By the time March ended, troops were moved to their designated places and on 21 April, the said operation was launched.