Jammu’s fragile peace tested as extremist elements target youth

THE recent bomb blast in Delhi and its links to doctors from Kashmir have exposed how terror organisations are attempting to radicalise educated youth willing to put their careers at risk. The development is deeply disturbing and calls for heightened caution from intelligence and security agencies, particularly in the sensitive parts of the Jammu region that were once major terror hotspots.

Districts such as Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar and Doda witnessed intense terrorist activity until 2010, including numerous targeted killings of members of a specific community by Pakistan-based militants. Although security forces neutralised most of these operatives over the years, renewed attempts to revive terrorism in the region have emerged.

One such incident was the Dhangri attack in Rajouri on January 1, 2023, in which seven members of the Hindu community were killed by Pakistani terrorists. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), these militants were aided by local Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and terror associates.

Despite experiencing relative calm in recent years, the sensitive districts of the Jammu division remain strategically significant and vulnerable to radical influence if vigilance lapses. As terror organisations shift their focus towards educated youth, the threat now extends beyond traditional recruitment zones. Social media has further amplified this risk, becoming a major tool for radicalisation across the world.

In this context, it is essential for security and intelligence agencies to recalibrate their approach, ensuring that concentrated attention on the Kashmir Valley does not overshadow the needs of sensitive areas in Jammu.

Recent intelligence meetings have emphasised the importance of strengthening human intelligence networks, increasing area-domination exercises, and tightening social media monitoring to establish a 360-degree security mechanism.

The Army is already engaging in community outreach by providing medical, educational and other assistance in vulnerable districts. Youth outreach and counselling initiatives are also vital to help insulate the region’s educated population from extremist narratives.

These recent incidents serve as a clear warning: the battleground of radicalism is expanding, and the sensitive pockets of Jammu cannot be overlooked.