Following the killing of Jaish-e-Muhammed chief, Gazi Baba, mastermind behind the parliament attack and the outfit’s, deputy commander, Nasir Mahmood Ahwan, there has been a renewed spurt in militant violence. The militant groups continue to randomly target civilians and have adopted the strategy of carrying out joint attacks against security forces. An encounter in Jammu sector revealed that militants killed belonged to three outfits, Lashkar-e Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Al-Mansoreen- first time that multiple organizations cooperated in a single operation. It appears that militant groups have joined hands in order to avenge the killing of the duo.

A series of attacks carried out by militants in the recent past showed a high degree of frustration. Obviously, in an attempt to inflict heavy casualties on security forces, militants target the latter even at the cost of innocent people in public places. Earlier, militants attempted not to target civilians while at hitting out at high profile targets. The unprecedented rise in terrorist strikes after the killing of the duo has been of a unique nature, since it inflicted more casualties on civilians than troops. Another way of looking at it makes it clear that even to target a handful of security personnel, militants could well be expected to play with the lives of ordinary people: In fruit mandi, militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in broad-day light which claimed 7civilians besides injuring 35 others. Brigadier F.C Chopra, a captain and other security personnel were wounded in the explosion. On 11th August, a bomb blast in Sogam, Kupwara wounded 3 civilians. Three days later, an IED claimed 4 lives besides injuring 25 others in Bandipora. On the same day, a number of grenade explosions in Chari Shareef and Pakarpora claimed the life of a civilian besides injuring as many as twenty-three. On 22nd August, in Sangam Bijbehara, grenade explosions claimed the life of a Bengali laborer besides leaving 22 people wounded.

The month of September too witnessed a flare-up in militant violence claiming more civilians than security forces. On 2nd September, a bus carrying troops ran over an IED, driver, Baljeet Singh died on the spot while 15 civilians were critically injured. A two-year-old baby succumbed to his wounds later. On 9th September, in Doda, a grenade missed the intended target, killed a minor besides seriously wounding her mother. On 11th September, a grenade blast in Lal Chowk killed a college girl. Twenty-two people were wounded in the blast. An 18-year-old student later succumbed in the hospital.

Though militant outfits have been issuing statements that people were like (oxygen) to them and would be taken care of but after the killing of the duo, militants seem resolved to avenge their killing in a hard-hitting manner. Such kind of attacks in public places send a strong message to security establishment- To ensure heavy casualties on troops, militants now no more care for what they call oxygen (people), should not be taken lightly.

Of late, involvement of women for the first time in the history of 13 years of militancy must have shaken the security establishment. The arrest of Mahmooda alias Dedi of Budgam reportedly assisting Bilal Jeshi, a much publicized local militant unfolded yet another ploy aimed to reinforce the militant fight. Mahmooda is alleged to have been incited by extremists after the Killing of her father Gh. Mohd. Parray, former block President of National Conference. Activation of women in militancy adds a dangerous dimension to militancy in the Valley, which has to be taken in to account by the security forces in dealing with the situation. Security Forces have traditionally always spared burqa clad individuals from search or investigation in the past. This may well have to change in the future.