In the lead-up to the first phase of Assembly elections, violence erupted in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving two Army personnel and three terrorists dead in separate encounters. The clashes come as security forces ramp up operations to curb terrorist activities in the region.

In Kishtwar district, two soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed, and two others were injured during a gunfight with terrorists on Friday. The incident occurred when a joint team of Army personnel and local police launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Naidgham area, acting on intelligence inputs.

The terrorists, hiding in the dense Pingnal Dugadda forest, opened fire on the approaching security forces, triggering a fierce gun battle. Among the casualties were Junior Commissioned Officer Naib Subedar Vipan Kumar and Sepoy Arvind Singh, both of whom succumbed to their injuries after being airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

Simultaneously, a second encounter unfolded in the Baramulla district, where security forces successfully neutralized three terrorists who had taken refuge in a building in the Chak Tapper area. The operation concluded after hours of intense fighting, resulting in the elimination of the trapped terrorists.

The Union Territory has seen a surge in violent incidents as tensions rise ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls, the first in the region in a decade. The Indian Army has cordoned off both areas involved in the latest encounters, and operations are ongoing to ensure the elimination of any remaining threats.

Earlier in the week, two more terrorists were killed in an encounter in Basantgarh near the Kathua-Udhampur border. This was followed by an incident of unprovoked firing from Pakistan Rangers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu’s Akhnoor sector, in which a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was injured.

Professor Sajjad Raja, former Chairman of NEP JKGBL, has issued a stern ultimatum to Pakistan authorities, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), demanding the immediate recovery and release of all forcibly abducted citizens from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Raja announced a seven-day notice for the agencies to act, warning that failure to address the issue would lead to an International Conference at the Geneva Press Club on September 17, 2024, to launch a global campaign against Pakistan’s occupation and its brutal atrocities.

The situation in PoJK has reached a critical point as over 20 civilians of POJK have become subject to Pak Army’s brutal enforced disappearances policy. This surge in abductions has spurred widespread public protests across the region, with residents expressing their frustration and outrage over the increasing violence and repression.

The most recent case involving the abduction of Raja Mudassir, a PoJK resident, has ignited a wave of demonstrations. Mudassir, who was taken by security forces during Ramadan, remains missing, and his family’s desperate pleas for his safe return have intensified public dissent. Protesters have taken to the streets in large numbers, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mudassir and others who have fallen victim to enforced disappearances.

The protests have seen local residents and leaders vocally criticizing the Pakistan Army and the PoJK administration for their role in these human rights abuses. Placards and slogans denouncing the Pakistan defense forces and local authorities were prominently displayed during the demonstrations.

The proposed international conference in Geneva represents a crucial step towards holding Pakistan accountable for its actions and seeking justice for the victims of enforced disappearances.