Pak made pistols, currency, SIM seized
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 18: Army and police today thwarted yet another attempt by the Kashmir-based militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) to revive militancy in the border district of Poonch by effecting recovery of a major consignment of arms and ammunition including six pistols, four Pakistani and two US made, which were to be used by the militants for terror activities including the selective killings.
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Recoveries which also include mobile phone with Pakistani SIM card, comes close on the heels of two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted on the roads, which were defused by the security forces and some other recoveries of arms, ammunition and explosives.
Police sources told the Excelsior that some Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the militants have become active in Poonch district, who were planting the IEDs or IEDs-like objects and hiding consignment of arms and ammunition at different places. There was enough evidence to prove that the consignment had been smuggled from Pakistan as it carried two Pakistan made pistols, Pakistan currency and Pakistani SIM card, they said.
There have been reports that Kashmir-based militants of LeT and JeM outfits have been concentrating on twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri as part of their strategy to revive militancy in peaceful districts of Jammu region. After succeeding in their plot in Kishtwar district, the militant commanders were now targeting Doda, Ramban, Poonch and Rajouri districts, the sources said.
In Kishtwar district too, the militants from South Kashmir along with couple of locals were responsible for four major killings including that of BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar and RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO Rajinder Kumar and they were planning similar strategies for other districts of Jammu region, they disclosed.
“There were specific inputs that the Kashmir-based militants including Pakistanis were coordinating revival of militancy in parts of Jammu region. Recent IEDs planted by the militants on the main roads in Poonch district were also part of this strategy,’’ the sources said confirming that OGWs were active in the district, who were concealing consignments of arms and ammunition and planting the IEDs at the behest of their mentors.
Recoveries made today from Gursai area of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district were quite significant. They included one AK-47 rifle with three AK magazines and 90 rounds, six pistols including four Pakistan made and two US made with 10 magazines, one Chinese grenade, about Rs 10,000 Pakistani currency, six Pika rounds, eatables, Pathan suits, mobile telephone, Pakistani SIM card and some sharp-edged weapons.
The consignment of arms and ammunition seems to have been smuggled recently. However, it was not clear whether the consignment had come from across the Line of Control (LoC) or Kashmir. Sometimes, the Kashmiri militants send consignment in advance through OGWs to execute the task later, which is part of their strategy not to cover long distance along with weapons for the fear of getting arrested.
Sources didn’t rule out the possibility of militants having used Mughal road for transportation of arms and ammunition to Mendhar from the Kashmir valley but said all these aspects are part of investigations under First Information Report (FIR) No. 41/ 2019 registered at Gursai police station on Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district.
Only few days back, the Intelligence agencies had nabbed six Pakistani spies, who were in direct link with Pakistan’s ISI and militant commanders and were providing them videos of strategic locations.
When contacted, SSP Poonch, Romesh Angral said the recoveries were made from a hideout in Gursai Nullah on specific inputs developed by police and Army that consignment of arms and ammunition has been dumped there.
“It was a successful operation and the hideout has been destroyed,’’ Angral said, adding that police and security forces conducted searches in the area but no arrests were made immediately. However, searches continued in some places.
Police parties headed by SDPO Mendhar Neeraj Padyaar and comprising teams of Army from Romeo Force made the recoveries.
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