In the backdrop of increasing incidents of attacks on security forces, the Army and police in Kashmir have launched a major coordinated offensive against militants whose ranks have only swelled up mainly in south of the Valley in recent months.



Reports said the Army, the Jammu and Kashmir police and other security forces have cordoned off 20 villages in southern Shopian to nab the militants, who carried multiple terror attacks in and around the district in recent weeks. Assisted by gunship helicopters, hundreds of troops and policemen were carrying house-to-house searches in Turkwangam area of Shopian, reports added.



Deputy Inspector General of Police (south Kashmir) S P Pani confirmed that an “unprecedented” search operation was going on in several villages of Shopian since morning. “We had inputs about the presence of militants in the area. Clashes erupted at two places in Sugan and Turkwanagam, but we are dealing with it,” he said, while refusing to comment on the facilities used in the operation.



Sources said the cordon and search operation was started in the area during wee hours of Thursday after inputs that the recent video in which around 30-militants were seen together might have been filmed in the area. They said that helicopters were seen hovering in the sky as forces continued house-to-house searches.



A local resident told DH over phone that security forces ‘indiscriminately’ thrashed people, besides damaging vehicles, door and windowpanes and other household goods during the search operation.



The militants had on Tuesday night snatched five rifles from police guards posted at the Shopian district court complex. Prior to that five policemen and two bank security guards were killed in an attack on a cash van of J&K in Phambai area of neighbouring Kulgam district.



After last year’s unrest, militant outfits particularly indigenous Hizb-ul-Mujahideen have strengthened their ranks and militants gave surfaced in open several times in south Kashmir to garner support from the people.



Also, militants have been seen roaming around freely in villages of South Kashmir, attracting the attention of the youth. A senior police officer said militants could construct a narrative of heroism around Hizbul commander Burhan Wani’s pursuits and killing last year.



“Nearly 100 young boys have joined the Hizbul ranks during the past six months in south Kashmir districts of Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama. Burhan’s replacement and other militant commanders have followed his footsteps by using social media to reach out the Internet-savvy youth of the Valley with their ‘jihad obligation’ message,” he said.



The officer revealed that top security officials have told the state government in “clear terms” that they need “free hand” to deal with the militants and stone-pelters to control the situation. “The police top brass isn’t happy with the way government is dealing with the situation. Police wants a free hand to deal with the militants and their sympathizers, which Mehbooba Mufti government wasn’t allowing especially in south Kashmir which is ruling PDP’s bastion,” he claimed.