Congress protests in Jammu over rising terrorism and delayed statehood restoration

NEW DELHI: The Congress party staged a protest march in Jammu on Saturday, criticising the Central government's handling of rising terrorism in the Jammu region. The march, which started from Panjtirthi and concluded at Parade Chowk, was prompted by the recent loss of four police personnel in a two-day encounter with terrorists in Kathua district. The attack, which began on Thursday, led to the deaths of two Pakistani terrorists and left four Jammu and Kashmir Police officers dead.

Congress leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee working presidents Tara Chand and Raman Bhalla, led the march. Protesters voiced their frustration not only with the surge in terrorism but also with the delayed restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a longstanding demand.
Tara Chand expressed deep sorrow over the loss of security personnel and condemned the government’s inability to maintain peace. He called for immediate action to prevent further loss of life and stressed that the restoration of statehood was essential for the region’s progress. He emphasised that the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a peaceful environment, job opportunities, and the full protection of their rights. Bhalla echoed similar concerns, attributing the increasing terror activities to the Central government's failure to act.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah also condemned the violence, stressing the need for better control over terrorism in the region. Speaking after visiting the families of the fallen policemen, Abdullah stated that the situation in Jammu had deteriorated in recent years, particularly after the redeployment of troops to counter Chinese incursions in Ladakh. He assured that efforts were underway to address security concerns.
The operation in Kathua, which began on March 23 after reports of suspected Pakistani infiltrators, led to fierce clashes. Four police officers—Balvinder Singh, Tariq Ahmad, Jaswant Singh, and Jagbir Singh—were killed, while two Pakistani terrorists, reportedly affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad group, were also gunned down. Security forces are continuing their search operation in the area to neutralise any remaining terrorists.
The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, vowed that the sacrifices of the fallen officers would not be in vain. He reinforced the commitment of Jammu and Kashmir Police to fight terrorism and ensure security, emphasising the need to maintain a unified stance against external forces aiming to destabilise the region.