Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 12: In a serious development on militancy front, police have found the mark of ‘TTM’ (Tehreek-e-Taliban Mujahid) on one of the AK rifles recovered from the possession of two slain militants in an encounter on the Line of Control (LoC) at Bigial Dara in Poonch sector on the intervening night of May 9 and 10.
The ‘Tehreek-e-Taliban Mujahid’ outfit is predominately a militant outfit comprising Taliban cadre and is operating in various parts of Pakistan.
This is for the first time that the trails of an infiltration attempt, though effectively thwarted by the Army, have been found leading to the Taliban, whose presence in Jammu and Kashmir has always been denied by all security agencies though they admit that after NATO troops pullout from Afghanistan, the Taliban could divert their cadre to India to step-up militancy not only in J&K but in other parts of the country as well.
When contacted to confirm the reports that one of the weapon seized from the possession of slain militants at Kalsan in Bigial Dara area of Poonch sector carried the mark of ‘TTM’, SSP Poonch Shamsheer Hussain replied in positive.
“We are trying to ascertain the message conveyed by the militants by the writing on the rifles but definitely one of the weapon had the mark of ‘LT’ (Lashkar-e-Toiba) and TTM,’’ Shamsheer said, adding the TTM did stand for Tehreek-e-Taliban Mujahid.
However, the SSP was of the view that they have no evidence to authenticate that the group of four militants, which tried to infiltrate from Bigial Dara on the intervening night of May 8 and 9 were Taliban as two of them were killed while two others were injured and retreated to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Official sources, however, said this was for the first time that the weapon seized from slain militants carried the sign of ‘TTM’ as in the previous encounters, the weapon had marks of ‘LT’, ‘JM’ or ‘HM’ or no signs at all.
Going by the reports that one of the militants gave a tough fight to the Army and had nearly killed an Army jawan but for the brave fight put up by the Gurkha soldier, who eliminated the terrorist in hand-to-hand fight, the possibility that the group of four militants infiltrating into this side from Bigial Dara sector could be Taliban cadre was not ruled out.
Sources have already confirmed that slain militants were Pakistanis.
There had been concerns raised by various security agencies at the Centre as well as the State level that Taliban could divert its cadre to India once NATO troops start their scheduled pull out from Afghanistan. Security agencies have already said that they were fully prepared to meet with any eventuality.
Meanwhile, troops foiled yet another infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district last night.
Sources said the militants opened firing in Kirpan area of KG sector at 12.30 am. The troops retaliated. Exchange of firing continued till 3 am.
Troops forced the militants to retreat, they added.
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