The Ramzan ceasefire was announced on May 17. (File photo)
Highlights
- Security forces directed to resume anti-terror operations
- "Terrorists have continued with their attacks": Rajnath Singh
- Ceasefire had "brought relief to the common citizens," he said
The ceasefire announced by the government in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan will not be extended, Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced today in a series of tweets, adding that security forces had been directed to resume anti-terror operations.
"It was expected that everyone will cooperate in ensuring the success of this initiative. While the Security Forces have displayed exemplary restraint during this period, the terrorists have continued with their attacks, on civilians and SFs, resulting in deaths and injuries."
"The Security Forces are being directed to take all necessary actions as earlier to prevent terrorists from launching attacks and indulging in violence and killings," Mr Singh tweeted.
The declaration comes after senior journalist
Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead near his office in Srinagar's Press Colony on Thursday. Police suspect the killers were working for the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Army jawan
Aurangzeb was kidnapped by suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in Pulwama the same day. His bullet-riddled body was found hours later. In a video, believed to have been shot before he was killed, he was grilled about his role in terror operations.
The Home Minister, in his tweets today, said that "Government will continue with its endeavour to create an environment free of terror and violence in Jammu and Kashmir".
The
Ramzan ceasefire was announced on May 17 "in order to provide people of the state a conducive atmosphere to observe Ramzan and the festival of Eid". But the data collected by the home ministry showed that terror-related incidents in the Valley saw a jump of over 100 per cent during Ramzan.
Before the ceasefire was announced -- April 19 to May 16 -- only 25 terror-related cases were reported. But after the announcement, as many as
66 cases were reported between May 17 and June 13, according to the data. The attacks on civilians also grew in number.
Mr Singh has urged the "peace-loving people of the state to come together to isolate the terrorists and motivate those who have been misguided to return to the path of peace".