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Context
In June 2025, Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism from the region.
During his address to police cadets at the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy in Udhampur, he emphasized the integration of modern technology, intelligence, community participation, and inter-agency coordination alongside traditional beat policing methods.
Amid this, the evolving security framework in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the role of the J&K Police (JAKP) under democratic leadership, is gaining renewed attention.
Central Role of J&K Police in Counter-Terrorism
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized the critical role of the J&K Police in combating terrorism—highlighting a long-held understanding that local police forces form the backbone of any counter-terror effort, while central forces offer support.
Key Strengths of the JAKP:
- Deep geographical familiarity and knowledge of local demographics
- Strong community ties, crucial for collecting human intelligence (HUMINT)
However, the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, where the assailants remain unidentified, exposed gaps in local intelligence gathering, underscoring the need for:
- Continuous operational improvements within the police force
- Greater accountability of the police under an elected government
Elected local representatives like sarpanches and MLAs enjoy community trust and often possess key information about terrorist networks, making their inclusion in the security structure essential for achieving sustained peace.
Reviving Democratic Institutions for Improved Security
While Jammu and Kashmir has historically seen strong electoral participation, especially in local body elections, security concerns have often sidelined elected leaders, limiting their constitutional authority.
Need for Institutional Activation:
- Restore full functionality of panchayats, municipal bodies, MLAs, and MPs
- Make these bodies accountable for local security in partnership with law enforcement
Failing to do so risks fostering disengagement from the political process and weakening community support against terrorism.
Strategic Recommendations:
- Encourage structured coordination between local police and elected leaders
- Promote information exchange, address community grievances, and foster public trust
- Tailor strategies to local realities, given the complex mix of domestic and foreign terrorist elements
With local police stations as critical grassroots nodes, the JAKP acts as the interface between governance and security, and this connection must be strengthened.
Empowering Elected Representatives for Inclusive Security
Excluding elected leaders from the security ecosystem undermines both governance and counter-terrorism efforts.
Benefits of Restoring Police Oversight to an Elected Government:
- Improves accountability of policing
- Ensures security policies are aligned with community needs
- Builds public trust and cooperation, essential for intelligence gathering and enforcement
While holding Assembly and parliamentary elections restores democratic rights, true participatory governance requires that elected officials be involved in security planning and execution.
Without such inclusion, the Lieutenant Governor’s vision of deep community engagement will remain unfulfilled.
Strengthening democratic involvement is key to enhancing governance and ensuring long-term security in Jammu and Kashmir.
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General Studies