Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 29: Army has launched a massive operation against a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group in Tanghdar forest area, who were associates of the three Fidayeen who were killed after they attacked an Army camp in the area last week.
Army has deployed para-commandos in Tanghdar area near the Line of Control (LoC) in the frontier district of Kupwara against this group who are also believed to be Fidayeen. Sources said that the six member group of JeM infiltrated recently from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) into Tanghdar and three of them attacked the 3/1Gorkha Battalion Headquarter last week. All of them were killed in Army operation and one generator operator of the Army was shot dead by the militants.
The other three of their associates who are also believed to be Fidayeen are believed to be in the forest area and Army has launched massive searches against them. More troops have been rushed to the area to prevent them from carrying out the attack or shift to the hinterland.
Last week’s attack was the second attack on Army camp that was foiled this year by the Army. Early this year another group of JeM tried to attack Brigade headquarters. Four JeM militants were killed in the Army operation against them.
Army has received maps from the three dead militants that suggest that the target of these Fidayeen was the Army camp in Tanghdar. “We have recovered documents from them that suggest they were coming for this kind of target”, the General Officer Commanding of 15 Corps, Lt General Satish Dua said here.
However, no GPS devices were recovered from them that suggest that they were brought to the camp by some local guide. Earlier, this year, no GPS devices were recovered from the JeM militants but no guide was arrested so far.
Sources said that at least two groups of JeM have already infiltrated this year. The JeM wants to strengthen its base in Kashmir but killing of its two commanders in Tral area was major setback to them. Security forces this year killed two commanders of JeM Adil Pathan and Burme in Tral who were trying to recruit locals for JeM.
JeM is trying to revive its base in Kashmir since early this year. They are also planning to target the security forces camps and posts near the borders to keep pressure on troops.
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