India: Major security operation in southern Kashmir May 4

Event

As part of the first major joint security operation since July 2016 by the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Jammu Kashmir Police, at least 20 villages in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir were cordoned off for security activity early on the morning of Thursday, May 4. The operation comes after recent incidents of rifle theft and bank robberies in south Kashmir. It is the first major crackdown launched in southern Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen commander Burhan Wani last July, which led to significant unrest.

Context

The move aims to reassert the authority of the state in the region given the recent uptick in violence. On May 1, militants killed five police officers and two private guards of a Jammu Kashmir bank.  On May 2, militants stole five rifles from Jammu Kashmir police officers who were deployed at a district court complex.

Advice

As a reminder, authorities advise against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir, as well as to the border region with Pakistan (direct vicinity of the Line of Control) due to the high threat of terrorism, with the exception of the city of Jammu and the region of Ladakh. Western governments usually advise their citizens against all but essential travel to the city of Srinagar.