Massive searches for 4-5 more ultras
Plot to revive militancy, sabotage polls
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 14: In a major success, police and Army today thwarted major plot by the terrorists to revive militancy in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri and sabotage upcoming Panchayat elections with the arrest of two militants, recovery of two assault rifles and large quantity of ammunition from their possession at Jharan Wali Gali (JWG) in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district.
Army’s 25 Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group (SOG) and police have launched massive searches in Mendhar and Surankote following inputs that another group of four to five militants might be hiding somewhere in these two areas, where the arrested militants had to establish contact with them.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Range, Dr SD Singh Jamwal told the Excelsior that two militants from South Kashmir have been arrested at Jharan Wali Gali by a joint team of police and Army and two deadly assault rifles and ammunition were recovered from them.
Further investigations were on, he said.
Reliable sou-rces said the militants were travelling in a Tavera vehicle No. 5936 JK01R from Mendhar to Surankote this evening and were intercepted by police, Army and SOG at Jharan Wali Gali as security forces had developed specific information about movement of the militants.
“As the Tavera vehicle was intercepted, the militants tried to open firing to escape but were overpowered by the alert security personnel,” sources said, adding that two AK-56 rifles and large quantity of ammunition have been recovered from the possession of arrested militants. The Tavera vehicle has been seized.
Arrested militants have been identified as Shabir Ahmad son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din and Mohammad Auqib, both residents of Kakapora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Sources said the militants were immediately whisked away to a safe location and subjected to sustained interrogation during which they were reported to have disclosed presence of more militants in the area.
Immediately thereafter, teams of Army, Special Operations Group and police led by senior officers fanned out at Jharan Wali Gali, Gursai, Pathana Peer, Salwa, Kalai and all surrounding villages and launched massive searches to track down the remaining militants, if any. Search operation continued till late tonight when the reports last came in. Major roads in Mendhar and Surankote have also been closed to ensure that the remaining militants don’t manage to escape.
However, there were no reports of any further arrests.
Sources said there had already been inputs with Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army that after the killings of BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar in Kishtwar district, the militants of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were planning to revive militancy in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch besides Doda and Ramban.
The immediate target of the militants was Panchayat elections, sources said, adding that the militants had planned to disturb the polls by resorting to attacks on the candidates, polling booths and carrying out attacks to spread panic among the people.
“Investigations were on to find out the route used by the militants to reach Mendhar from South Kashmir as Mughal road linking Shopian with Rajouri and Poonch was closed for the past more than one week. Things would be clear when the militants are subjected to sustained questioning. Presently focus of the Army was on tracing the other militants active in the area,” sources said.
The militants, it may be mentioned, were desperate to disturb Panchayat elections as they have been facing pressure from their mentors across the border due to successful and violence-free conduct of Urban Local Body elections in the entire State.
It is believed that the militants had to carry out terror attacks not only to sabotage the Panchayat elections but also to signal revival of militancy in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, like Kishtwar.
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