Grenade attacks are back in Kashmir, after 2 decades

It has been a long hiatus for grenade attacks in Kashmir since the 1990s. However, after close to two decades, use of grenades by militants is back in the valley.

Grenade attacks are on the rise in the state after the Centre's announcement suspending operations in Kashmir in view of the month of Ramzan.

Since May 17, from when operations were suspended, more than a dozen grenade attacks were launched by the militants, injuring both security forces and civilians. On May 23, at least 12 people were injured in a grenade attack at Guriwan in Bijbehara in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Later on June 4, 16 people—the highest in a day—including four policemen and 12 civilians, were injured when militants hurled a grenade at a police party in Shopian in south Kashmir. “Around 12 civilians were reportedly injured in this explosion. A young girl suffered critical injuries,” said a police spokesman.

Security forces believe that the use of grenades by the militants is either aimed to provoke the security forces indiscriminately into fire or create a fear among the security forces vulnerable to such attacks.

The use of grenades also allows the attackers to go incognito in the crowd, without being detected or identified. However, such attacks have a serious downside as the weapon cannot differentiate between security forces and civilians. Back in 1990s, many civilians were killed in Kashmir due to similar grenade attacks that were intended at the security forces.

The fact that grenade attacks have taken place in south Kashmir and Srinagar as well is adding to the fears of the security forces currently. The forces fear that grenades can be stored at a hideout and used at will to create panic and inflict damage. The grenades are lobbed mostly by upper ground workers of the militants, which makes it even more dangerous.

Most of the grenade attacks are being carried out by pan-Islamist Jaish-e-Muhammad. Groups such as AlBadr and Tehreek-ul-Mujadeen, who were active in the 90s, have also claimed responsibility for a few attacks.

Curiously, Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba have not been found involved grenade attacks against the security forces. In fact, the Hizbul and Lashkar have not carried out any major attack on the security forces. Security forces believe that the two militant groups have responded favourably to the suspension of operations.

Whether the two groups are holding back due to Ramzan or are using the period to regroup would be clear after the Ramzan month comes to an end in the second week of June.