India: Suspected militants kill one person in Bandipora district May 25

Event

Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants killed one person in Bandipora district (Jammu and Kashmir state) early on Friday, May 25 (local time). Hundreds of people reportedly attended the victim's funeral. In a separate incident, unidentified militants threw a grenade at a military camp in Kulgam district (Jammu and Kashmir state) on Friday. No casualties were immediately reported. Residents alleged that security forces beat up locals and shop owners following the grenade attack; security officers have denied the allegations. Additional militant attacks and clashes between locals and police are possible in Kashmir in the coming days and weeks.

Context

A three-decade long insurgency continues in parts of Kashmir. Some separatist groups support the complete independence of Kashmir, while others favor an annexation by neighboring Pakistan.

Tensions were particularly high in the region in February and March 2018, following an attack on an Indian army camp in which six soldiers died. Sporadic cross-border shelling and border skirmishes were reported throughout February and March. Since the beginning of May, several incidents resulting in casualties have taken place. Notably, on May 18, one member of the Indian Border Security Force was killed and two civilians were wounded in an exchange of gunfire at the Line of Control (LoC) near the Indian towns of Arnia and Ranbir Singh Pora (Jammu and Kashmir state).

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to closely monitor developments to the situation and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. As a reminder, some Western governments advise their citizens against travel to parts of Kashmir, notably areas along the LoC, due to the significant risk of violence.