Security reviewed, upped further
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 5: Security of Kot Bhalwal and Srinagar Central jails, where top terrorists and their associates including some foreigners have been lodged, has been beefed up following inputs that Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar alias Mushtaq Latram, a dreaded terrorist released during Kandahar plane hijack, was plotting terror strikes in the twin jails, while sitting in Pakistan.
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Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Director General Rajinder Singh Bhatti visited Jammu and Kashmir for high-level review of security in Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu and Central Jail Srinagar with top officials of the CISF, other security and intelligence agencies. He also briefed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on the situation.
In 2023, CISF was assigned security of Kot Bhalwal and Srinagar Central jails where high profile terrorists including foreigners and dreaded Over Ground Workers (OGWs) have been lodged.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), investigating April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed, a day before interrogated two terror associates of Mendhar in Poonch district in Kot Bhalwal jail including Nissar Ahmed alias Haji and Mushtaq Hussain.
Nissar and Hussain were lodged in Kot Bhalwal jail for facilitating infiltration of a group of Pakistani terrorists involved in January 1, 2023 Dhangri terror attack in Rajouri district and April 20, 2023 strike on Army truck at Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar area of Poonch district. Seven civilians were killed in Dhangri attack while five Army bravehearts were martyred in Mendhar.
Sources said the security and intelligence agencies have generated inputs that the terrorists could try to target the jails by triggering terror strikes and help some of their associates flee.
“In view of this, security of both Kot Bhalwal and Srinagar Central jails has been further beefed up and strict surveillance is being maintained on hardcore terrorists and their associates. Some of the terrorists are likely to be segregated further,” the sources said, adding that security in these two jails is always very high.
Regular checking of terrorists is being conducted to ensure that they are not in possession of any kind of communication devices through which they can interact with their associates outside and receive instructions. Visitors are also being frisked thoroughly.
Inputs indicated that Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar alias Mushtaq Latram, a dreaded Kashmiri terrorist who was released among others in exchange of Kandahar hijacked plane passengers, has been trying to mastermind terror attacks on the twin jails through his operatives in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, sources said, security arrangements are such in the twin jails that the terrorists can’t succeed in their designs. Moreover, security in these two jails has been further tightened in the aftermath of April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 25 tourists and a local were killed.
Besides Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar alias Mushtaq Latram, a Kashmiri, two other terrorists swapped for Kandahar hijacked plane passengers in December 1999 were Masood Azhar and Omar Sheikh.
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