Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 29: A day after three fidayeens struck at Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and Janglote Army camp, security forces and police have foiled another terror plot with the arrest of a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit in Poonch yesterday while police have recovered a Global Positioning System (GPS) from the site of yesterday’s encounter at Janglote in Kathua district, which could give vital leads to investigating agencies on the route taken by the fidayeens to reach the Highway.
Investigations carried out by police and Intelligence agencies in Kathua so far revealed that the militants had come with the intentions to prolong the encounter, which was evident from recovery of a large quantity of ammunition from their possession. Police have recovered nearly 500 rounds of AK from the possession of slain militants while they had exhausted almost an equal number of rounds in firing with Army, CRPF and police.
Official sources told the Excelsior that security forces and police have foiled another plot by the militants to carry out a terror attack on or before Parliamentary elections in Jammu, which were scheduled for April 10 in Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat and April 17 in Udhampur-Doda constituency, with the arrest of a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander yesterday.
Security forces have arrested the Hizbul commander identified as Mohammad Azeem, a resident of Fatehpur, Rajouri along with an AK rifle, a pistol, 18 rounds, IED and ammunition.
Azeem was arrested soon after he infiltrated inside the Indian territory from the Line of Control (LoC) in Digwar sector of Poonch district. Unconfirmed reports said that two more militants were following Azeem but they retreated after security forces arrested their associate. Two other militants were also equipped with arms, ammunition and explosive devices.
Army has been maintaining a very high alert all along the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the wake of reports that the militants could make intrusion bids to disrupt the general elections. Few days back, Army had arrested a militant with arms and ammunition while Azeem had become second ultra to be arrested on the LoC in past fortnight.
Azeem had planned to trigger a terror attack on or before the Lok Sabha election and had to be associated in his attempt by some local Over Ground Workers (OGWs), who were being identified and could be arrested shortly.
Meanwhile, sources said police have recovered a GPS in damaged condition, which had been used by the militants for reaching Jammu-Pathankot National Highway.
Sources said after reaching their destination at Janglote Army camp in Kathua district and engaging the troops in firing yesterday, the militants had damaged the GPS to ensure that the security agencies didn’t manage to extract data from it including the route taken by them in reaching the National Highway.
However, sources said, cyber experts of police were trying to retrieve the data even from the damaged GPS, which could give police some vitals leads especially about the route of the militants. Security agencies were baffled as to how the militants could infiltrate from the International Border with ease when the BSF was maintaining high alert on the border.
Though all indications pointed towards infiltration of militants from the IB, sources said, the route taken by the militants was being investigated. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had yesterday asked the BSF to plug the gaps on the border to stop infiltration of the militants at a time when the elections were in the offing.
Last time on September 26, 2013 when three militants had travelled from border village of Hariya Chak to Hiranagar police station and then hijacked a truck to reach Mehsar Army camp in Samba district, the BSF in its inquiry report had categorically denied that the militants had intruded from the International Border. A total of 13 persons including four Army soldiers, an equal number of police personnel, two civilians and three fidayeens had been killed in the attack.
According to sources, police was taking services of Dog Squad on the border to ascertain whether the militants had infiltrated from the International Border.
Sources said Intelligence agencies were also investigating as to whether any tunnel had been dug on the IB for infiltration of the militants. It may be mentioned that a tunnel dug about 540 meters inside the Indian territory in forward village of Chechwal in Samba sector was detected in July 2012. Security forces had taken the help of seismic experts then to ascertain whether more tunnels existed on the border. However, no tunnels had been detected then.
Sources said recovery of such a large quantity of ammunition from the possession of militants indicated that they had come with the plan of prolonging the encounter after intruding inside the Army camp. However, Army didn’t allow the militants to enter any of their camps due to alertness and killed all three fidayeens in nearly 12 hours long operation with the help of CRPF and police.
Sources said police have recovered nearly 500 AK rounds from the spot while almost an equal number of rounds have been used by them during the firing.
Apart from the ammunition, Army and police had recovered three AK rifles, three pistols, four pre-fabricated IEDs, eatables etc from the possession of militants.
An Army jawan and two civilians were killed by the militants while four others including three civilians and an Army jawan were injured.
Meanwhile, all three fidayeens were buried at Kathua with all rituals after police handed over their bodies to the religious persons after conducting post-mortem on them.
Meanwhile, a befitting tribute was paid to martyr Lance Naik V Anthony Nirmal Viji of Artillery Regiment, in a wreath laying ceremony conducted as per the highest traditions of Indian Army at Pathankot air field this morning.
Viji had attained martyrdom while fighting bravely with the militants at Janglote yesterday.
The wreath laying ceremony was attended by Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, General Officer Commanding, Rising Star Corps and other military officials. The mortal remains of Lance Naik Anthony were flown to his native place Mugiyur in Vellupuram district of Tamil Nadu in an IAF aircraft.
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