Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 10: After divisional commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Abu Dujana, and his associates fled from cordon in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district yesterday, security forces have intensified operations in the area as they have inputs that they are planning a fidayeen attack in Kashmir along the National Highway.
The 55-Rashtriya Rifles of Army, 182 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Pulwama, today cordoned off and conducted search operations at Koil, Prichoo and Wagun villages of Pulwama in search of the LeT militants including Abu Dujana.
Sources said that security forces have intercepted a phone call which indicated that LeT based in South Kashmir is planning fidayeen attack along the National Highway on security forces in Kashmir.
They said that LeT has already conducted recce of an Army camp near Jawahar Tunnel, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 24th battalion at Jawahar Tunnel and one more security installation in South Kashmir along the highway.
These fidayeen are said to part of the group that carried out attack in Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI) Building at Pampore in South Kashmir on the National Highway last month that lasted for three days in which 5 security men including three Para-commandos of Army were killed and the building suffered extensive damage.
As part of proactive strategy to prevent the strike, Police and Army have established check points at various places along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and other roads so as to prevent movement of these fidayeen. They are conducting searches of all types of vehicles particularly trucks as LeT last year used a truck to ferry fidayeen to Uhdampur where they carried out an attack on BSF convoy.
Security forces were also conducting operations at various places in South Kashmir to put pressure on the militants. Sources said that security forces are taking every input in South Kashmir these days seriously so as to counter the LeT strike.
For last four days police and Army conducted searches at several places in South Kashmir. These operations were conducted at Tulbagh and Patalbagh in Pampore areas near the National Highway by 55- Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Pampore; Kaweni in Sangam by SOG and Army, Reshipora and Gowahapora near National Highway and Panzeth in Qazigund area by 9 RR and SOG Kulgam.
Yesterday, they trapped 11 militants of the LeT including its divisional commander, Abu Dujana, in village Wadhakpora in Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district where they were holding a meeting. Two of their members including a top commander, Abu Ukasha, were killed and others escaped.
Sources said that after the busting of LeT network following Udhampur attack on BSF convoy and killing of LeT commander Abu Qasim last year, LeT under the command of Abu Dujana in South Kashmir has re-established its network and received around a dozen foreign militants, who were planning strikes.
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