72 hours later, Valley silent, security forces keep fingers crossed

SRINAGAR, NOV 30: Seventy-two hours after the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Government came into effect, the graph of violence in t...

SRINAGAR, NOV 30: Seventy-two hours after the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Government came into effect, the graph of violence in the state seems to be coming down. On the third day today, there were just four incidents, all minor as per Kashmir standards.

But the police and security forces are keeping their fingers crossed as a single attack can change the entire scenario. The Unified Command, which oversees counter-insurgency operations in the state, is monitoring the situation closely. Sources say 15 Corps Commander Lt General J.R. Mukherjee is personally keeping an eye on the militant reaction to the ceasefire on the ground.

Militants, in fact, have not made any serious attempt as yet to show their displeasure regarding the ceasefire, though all the major outfits had outrightly rejected Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee8217;s Ramzan peace initiative. 8220;They the militants have not even attempted to attack in a big way. in fact, they have been avoiding direct confrontation and rather resorting to detonating improvised explosive devices,8221; a senior Border Security Force BSF officer said. 8220;Apart from the incident in Baramullah today, there has been no loss of life anywhere in a militant attack.8221;

Today morning, in Baramullah town, an unidentified militant fired at two BSF personnel purchasing vegetables. Four rounds were fired from a pistol fitted with a silencer, killing one BSF official on the spot and injuring the other. But the BSF troops exercised restraint. 8220;We took the casualty, but still there was no retaliation,8221; noted Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, A.K. Bhan.

Militants today also fired at the residence of a National Conference activist in Sopore besides attacking a security force picket in Ganderbal, but at both places, no loss of life or damage to property was reported. In a similar incident, militants attacked a gas plant at Pampore, but no harm was done.

Bhan told The Indian Express that they were in touch with senior officers of the BSF, CRPF and Army to monitor the happenings on a day-to-day basis. 8220;In fact, I have put many of my men specially to observe ceasefire implementation on the ground. And based on their reports, I am going to put forth suggestions to help make the entire process more successful,8221; he said.

Bhan added that there were reports that routine security checks were still being conducted on roads in rural belts. 8220;We have taken notice of that too and hope it will stop soon,8221; he said.

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But overall, the police and security force officers are reluctant to comment on the decrease in violence and the daily death toll in the Valley in the past three days because 8220;it might provoke the militants into a big incident8221;. Bhan too gave a guarded reply. 8220;It the lull shows the people8217;s resolve for peace and nothing else,8221; he said.

Muzamil Jaleel

Muzamil Jaleel is a Deputy Editor at The Indian Express and is widely recognized as one of India’s most authoritative voices on Jammu & Kashmir, national security, and internal affairs. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has provided definitive on-the-ground reportage from the heart of the Kashmir conflict, bearing witness to historic political transitions and constitutional shifts. Expertise and Investigative Depth Muzamil’s work is characterized by a rare combination of ground-level immersion and high-level constitutional analysis. His expertise includes: Conflict & Geopolitics: Decades of reporting on the evolution of the Kashmir conflict, the Indo-Pak peace process, and the socio-political dynamics of the Himalayan region. Constitutional Law: Deep-dive analysis of Article 370 and Article 35A, providing clarity on the legal and demographic implications of their abrogation in 2019. Human Rights & Accountability: A relentless investigator of state and non-state actors, uncovering systemic abuses including fake encounters and the custodial death of political workers. International War Reporting: Beyond South Asia, he provided on-the-spot coverage of the final, decisive phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. Landmark Exposés & Impact Muzamil’s reporting has repeatedly forced institutional accountability and shaped national discourse: The Kashmir Sex Scandal (2006): His investigative series exposed a high-profile exploitation nexus involving top politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers, leading to the sacking and arrest of several senior officials. Fake Encounters: His reports blew the lid off cases where innocent civilians were passed off as "foreign terrorists" by security forces for gallantry awards. SIMI Investigations: He conducted a massive deep-dive into the arrests of SIMI members, using public records to show how innocuous religious gatherings were often labeled as incriminating activities by investigative agencies. The Amarnath Land Row: Provided critical context to the 2008 agitation that polarized the region and altered its political trajectory. Over the years, Muzamil has also covered 2002 Gujarat riots, Bhuj earthquake, assembly elections in Bihar for Indian Express. He has also reported the peace process in Northern Ireland, war in Sri Lanka and national elections in Pakistan for the paper. Awards and Fellowships His "Journalism of Courage" has been honored with the industry's most prestigious accolades: Four Ramnath Goenka Awards: Recognized for J&K Reportage (2007), On-the-Spot Reporting (2009), and Reporting on Politics and Government (2012, 2017). Kurt Schork Award: From Columbia University for international journalism. Sanskriti Award: For excellence in Indian journalism and literature. IFJ Tolerance Prize: For his empathetic and nuanced reporting in South Asia. International Fellowships: Served as a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and worked with The Guardian, The Observer, and The Times in London. He has also received Chevening fellowship and a fellowship at the Institute of Social Studies, Hague, Netherlands. Professional Presence Current Location: New Delhi (formerly Bureau Chief, Srinagar). Education: Master’s in Journalism from Kashmir University. Social Media: Follow him for field insights and rigorous analysis on X (Twitter) @MuzamilJALEEL. ... Read More