In a worrying sign, investigations by police have revealed that terrorists involved in multiple attacks recently in Jammu’s Reasi, Kathua, and Doda districts received help from locals.
The attacks included targeting a pilgrim bus in Reasi on June 9, followed by incidents in Kathua and Doda, resulting in nine deaths, including a CRPF jawan, and numerous injuries.
Security forces responded with extensive operations, detaining multiple individuals for questioning.
A significant breakthrough in the Reasi bus attack, which claimed nine lives including the driver and conductor and left 33 injured, came with the arrest of Hakam Din, a resident of Bandhrahi in Rajouri. Din facilitated the terrorists by acting as a guide and providing shelter.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma, Din guided the terrorists to the attack site and provided them refuge multiple times before the incident.
Following the Reasi attack, Kathua saw the deaths of two terrorists and injuries to a civilian, while in Doda, an attack on a checkpoint injured five soldiers and a policeman. These incidents prompted a high-level security meeting led by Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasising zero tolerance for terrorism and enhanced security measures in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, and Reasi, especially in preparation for the Amarnath Yatra starting June 29 and upcoming assembly polls.
Police made progress in tracking the module responsible for guiding terrorists from the International Border in Hiranagar and Kathua sectors to Udhampur, Doda, Pir Panjal Range, and Kashmir.
Two residents of Bathal Chak in Hiranagar Tehsil, Kathua district, were detained for allegedly aiding terrorists, guiding them to a temporary shelter.
On June 11, two terrorists lost and sought water in Saida, Hiranagar, which aroused suspicion when villagers raised the alarm. During the subsequent encounter, a CRPF jawan was martyred, and a civilian was injured.
“Two terrorists freshly infiltrated and surfaced in Saida Sukhal near Koota Morh, Hiranagar, late on June 11,’’ said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu, Anand Jain. “They panicked, firing randomly and injuring a passing villager.” The Hiranagar incident was followed by an attack at Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road, injuring five soldiers and a policeman the same evening.
On June 12, terrorists fired at the police in Bhallesa, Gandoh, injuring a constable.
Director General of Police (DGP) R.R. Swain, visiting Hiranagar on June 15, attributed the attacks to desperate attempts by handlers across the border to maintain their operations post setbacks in Kashmir.
“The contractors (handlers) across the border send terrorists here to sustain their activities,” Swain said.
On June 18, three individuals were detained in Doda for providing food to terrorists and not reporting their movements. Another suspect is still at large and police have launched a hunt to arrest him.
The spate of attacks in Jammu comes after the Lok Sabha polls which witnessed a huge turnout in Jammu and over 50 per cent turnout in Kashmir, the highest in the last four decades.
Security officials say the targeting of the pilgrims is particularly worrying given the Amarnath yatra that commences on June 29 and will conclude on August 19. After the yatra, the Election Commission is expected to announce the election schedule for Jammu and Kashmir, the first since 2015 that brought to power the PDP-BJP government.
Security experts opine that the terrorists are taking advantage of the mountains and forested terrain in Jammu’s Rajouri-Poonch bordering Reasi to carry out attacks to strike and flee.
The role of locals in aiding and guiding terrorists has caused an alarm. However, the security forces are ensuring that investigations are carried out in a manner that doesn’t fuel anger among the locals and alienate them.
