While the whole of India along with the rest of the world was busy enjoying the latest Avengers: Infinity War movie, the Indian Army and the CRPF battalions enjoyed in their own special manner. The civil war situation in Kashmir has been going on for decades and the BJP backed Indian army has been on a winning spree in the past few years. This weekend added to the list of blockbuster successes for the army in Kashmir. Five terrorists were gunned down in an encounter which took place in Badigam village of Zainpora in Shopian district of Southern Kashmir has turned out to be a huge success for the security personnel operating in the Jammu and Kashmir region. The exceptional operations of the security personnel have dealt a major blow to the militant and separatist factions operating in the state. The members of the terrorist group of Hizbul Mujahideen has been taken down by the security forces. This encounter accomplished the complete destruction of the entire Burhan Muzaffar Wani faction. Often the group photograph of infamous Burhan Wani made the headlines in India.
Hizbul Mujahideen’s commander, Saddam Padder, was among the five terrorists gunned down on Sunday. Saddam was a part of the infamous Burhan Wani’s core group. He became the commander post the death of his dear friend. Saddam Padder was the top commander who had been actively involved in destabilizing the situation in the valley over the past few years. He had been an active militant for the past four years and also actively planned and carried out attacks on security forces. Another terrorist member,Tauseef Sheikh, was also killed during the encounter . He was active for over five years in terrorist activities. The killing of Saddam Padder and Tauseef Sheikh is a remarkable accomplishment as it would destabilize the terrorist network operating in Kashmir. The killing of these long associated terrorists would also limit the recruitment of youngsters in the terrorist groups. The duo became known separatist figures in the valley and had motivated the young people to join their militant groups.
Other terrorists gunned down by the Army included Dr Muhammad Rafi Bhat, a new member who was accompanying the terrorists. His short stint as a terrorist lasted for just two days until Sunday, when he met his end at the hands of the Army. Bhat was a contractual assistant professor at the Kashmir University’s sociology department. Bhat was in the group which got slain in the encounter. The two other terrorists killed on Sunday were reportedly identified as Moulvi Bilal and Adil Thokar. They are well known terrorist faces from the south Kashmir valley.
The killing of these five terrorists will add up to the long tally of terrorists killed this year by the Indian Armed forces. Saturday has also been a successful day for the forces that had gunned down three Lashkar- e-Tayba militants in Chatabal locality of Kashmir. The recent crackdown on the terrorist groups is an example of PM Modi’s strict approach on the Kashmir valley insurgency crisis. The crackdowns have helped fracture the terrorist networks in the state. The large number of arms and ammunition recovered in both the operations point towards the destructive intentions of the terrorist forces. Pin pointed operations by the Army working together with the CRPF and the paramilitary forces have broken the morale of the terrorist groups. This sort of continued efforts in this direction will lead to the wipe out of terrorist groups in the future from the Kashmir valley. PM Modi has been adamant on restoring peace in the Kashmir valley and his backing of the security forces gives them the extra push which is required to work actively towards the goal. The solution to Kashmir crisis is on its way. Hopefully, one day peace will restored in Kashmir.