Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 18: Even as it detained some surrendered militants for questioning, police remained clueless in terror attack on a liquor shop at Narwal late last evening in which one civilian was killed and six others were injured. Police and civil administration, however, reviewed the situation to gear up its machinery to prevent revival of the militancy as the grenade attack by the militants in Jammu City took place after a long gap.
Official sources said police authorities, investigating yesterday’s grenade attack at Munish Wine Shop at Narwal, have detained some surrendered militants and other suspects to quiz them to get some clues about the blast. Some of the surrendered militants were also being used as spotters to trace suspects in the City and outskirts.
Problems of the police have been compounded by the CCTV, which was found out of order at Narwal. Police have admitted that no footage could be obtained from the CCTV as it was not working.
Police officers said they were working on different theories but were yet to gather clues on identity of the militant, who lobbed the grenade at Munish Wine Shop, as he hadn’t been spotted by anyone on spot. There was no eye-witness account as to whether the militant lobbed the grenade walking on foot or riding a two-wheeler or any other vehicle.
However, they said, efforts were on to trace the militant.
Police said the militant could be part of the Hizbul Mujahideen as denials notwithstanding the outfit was widely believed to be behind firing on three wine shops on the banks of Dal lake in Srinagar just two days before the terror strike in Jammu City.
Police was working on different theories-one that the militant could be hailing from the Kashmir Valley or erstwhile Doda district or he could be part of the sleeper cell of the militants in Jammu, who might have been activated to target the liquor shops here, like Srinagar.
Meanwhile, police authorities held a high level review of the situation here to take measures to arrest the militant and ensure that such a strike was not repeated in future. Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad presided over the meeting, which decided to take various preventive measures to keep the militancy under control. IGP Jammu Dilbagh Singh was also present.
Prior to the meeting, the DGP, the IGP and other senior officers visited the site of blast at Narwal for the spot assessment of the situation.
Mr Prasad is reported to have asked the police officers to leave no stone unturned in apprehended the militant and other anti-national elements, if any, active in the City. He is understood to have stated that there was no ground for leniency despite Jammu district having been declared as militancy free.
Sources said another meeting was held this morning between civil and police administration with liquor traders.
Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, DIG Jammu JP Singh and other senior police officers attended the meeting. The civil and police administration was reported to have asked the wine traders including liquor shops and bar and restaurant owners to install Close Circuit Television Sets in the shops to monitor footage and deploy private security personnel, if possible.
Sources said the administration was expected to take up with Excise Department the issue of early closure of wine shops from present deadline of 9.30 pm. The wine traders also put forth their view point before the administration, which the latter agreed to take into account before taking any decision.
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