NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Since October, 33 civilians have been killed in Indian Kashmir’s violent region. There has also been a surge of violence there, with a series of attacks on civilians, and a crackdown by the security forces.

Kashmir is an Indian and Pakistani territory that has been ruled by India in part but not in its entirety. Since 1990, it has been the subject of violent armed revolts against New Delhi.

(Graphic: Fatalities in Jammu and Kashmir since March 6, 2000: https://graphics.reuters.com/INDIA-KASHMIR/znvnezbzrpl/chart.png)

What IS HAPPENING?

A new wave of militant killings appears to have been directed at non-Kashmiris including migrants and members of minority Hindu or Sikh communities living in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley.

Two militants killed and one wounded migrant worker in Kashmir’s Kulgam on Sunday after shooting at two workers from north India.

Two teachers, one Hindu teacher and another Sikh teacher, were gunned down last week at a school located in Srinagar’s principal city, Kashmir.

From Oct. 6 to October 6, nineteen civilians have been killed by militants.

Who is behind the killings?

Indian security officials claim that assassinations were carried out by The Resistance Front, which they call a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (a militant group based in Pakistan), and Hizbul Mujahideen (a traditional group of fighters).

India claims Pakistan is supporting the insurgency against Kashmir. Islamabad refutes this claim. Pakistan denies that it offers any moral or diplomatic support to Kashmiri citizens.

New Delhi’s efforts to quell secessionist sentiments has been difficult for many decades in the state that was its sole Muslim majority.

Reasserting New Delhi’s control in August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi abolished Article 370 of the Constitution, ending the region’s autonomy and removing its statehood by splitting it into the federal territories of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Buddhist-dominated Ladakh.

TRF was formed in response to the August 2019 reorganisation in Kashmir. This was followed by harsh communications and movement lockdowns in Kashmir Valley in order to prevent large-scale protests.

TRF members used small and easily concealed arms, such as pistols, to attack their targets in recent attacks.

The Resistance Front stated in a social media statement earlier this month that it wasn’t targeting anyone based on their religion, but rather those who work for Indian authorities. Reuters was unable to verify that the statement is authentic.

What HAS BEEN THE REPONSE?

Indian security forces launched an extensive crackdown on militants, killing 13 in various operations in Kashmir Valley over the past two weeks.

Authorities detained over 300 people last week after two Srinagar teachers were shot to death. The majority of them were released shortly afterwards.

The Jamaat-e-Islami was a religious group that is banned in Pakistan. It also included secessionists from the Hurriyat Conference as well as others having ties to militant organisations.

Insurgents have been fighting the Indian army in Jammu for over a week. The area borders on the Kashmir valley. Nine soldiers were killed in that operation.

WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE LATEST VIOLENCE?

Some sections of the population have panicked, and scores of migrant workers and minority Hindus fled the Kashmir valley in search of safety.

Regional leaders have not only condemned the murders, but also challenged the Modi government’s actions after it decided to seperate the former state in 2019.

Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of state, said that none of the above people “deserved to die.”

“One wonders what will it take for GOI (government of India) to realise that its policies have been a monumental failure in J&K & at what cost?” She stated.