IED blasts, Fidayeen attacks, militants focus on north Kashmir
, ET Bureau|
Jan 12, 2018, 11.21 AM IST
Jammu and Kashmir police claims that the militants are desperately trying to set up network in north Kashmir, with Jaish-e-Muhammad taking lead and ensuring active cooperation between different militant groups.
Earlier this week, J&K police arrested two militants and nine alleged over ground workers of militants from Sopore area of north Kashmir. This module police says was directly controlled by HM's Riyaz Naikoo and Hammad and JeM commanders Qasim and Ali, based out of south Kashmir.
"This year militants will target north Kashmir and they are trying their level best. We have killed all big commanders of HM and their last commander Sajad has joined LeT. Three youth from Brat village have joined along with him. We have around 15 militants of LeT and JeM active here," SSP Sopore, Harmeet Singh Mehta told ET. The two militants, who hail from Tral of south Kashmir and local OGWs, arrested by the police Mehta says were tasked to motivate youth of north to join the militant ranks.
The recent IED attack of JeM in Sopore in which four policemen were killed has also triggered a concern among government forces pointing at the fact that few experts may have crossed over recently and joined the militants here to revitalize and use the deadly old technique of IED blasts.
"Here JeM commander Mehmood Bhai is moving around with four or five men. And another militant Mehraj ud din from Qayoom Najar's group has joined JeM as well. JeM does huge damage and they are ruthless in their operations," Mehta told ET.
Most of the militants, who cross Line of Control, police say directly move towards south Kashmir via Bandipora and one or two groups have stayed in north Kashmir.
"They are exploiting internet to the best level. Either we have to somehow monitor Internet completely or do something else. They contact people on Facebook and Whats App and other applications," said Mehta. Another senior official added, " You will be amazed to see how freely they talk and even move in the cars from south to north. If they feel heat in south, they come to north Kashmir and stay here quietly."
A police official, who has interrogated many militants and OGWs arrested recently says, "Militancy is the only socially acceptable way to vent out their frustration. It is a conscious decision now where they know what their fate would be. These boys have become so familiar with death and dead bodies that they are more than ready to embrace it."
After the killing of several top commanders of Lashkar eToiba and Hizb ul Mujahideen in first six months of 2017, JeM came back on scene plotting spectacular attacks including one on Pulwama district lines, BSF camp outside Srinagar Airport and Lethpora CRPF installation.
Earlier this week, J&K police arrested two militants and nine alleged over ground workers of militants from Sopore area of north Kashmir. This module police says was directly controlled by HM's Riyaz Naikoo and Hammad and JeM commanders Qasim and Ali, based out of south Kashmir.
"This year militants will target north Kashmir and they are trying their level best. We have killed all big commanders of HM and their last commander Sajad has joined LeT. Three youth from Brat village have joined along with him. We have around 15 militants of LeT and JeM active here," SSP Sopore, Harmeet Singh Mehta told ET. The two militants, who hail from Tral of south Kashmir and local OGWs, arrested by the police Mehta says were tasked to motivate youth of north to join the militant ranks.
The recent IED attack of JeM in Sopore in which four policemen were killed has also triggered a concern among government forces pointing at the fact that few experts may have crossed over recently and joined the militants here to revitalize and use the deadly old technique of IED blasts.
"Here JeM commander Mehmood Bhai is moving around with four or five men. And another militant Mehraj ud din from Qayoom Najar's group has joined JeM as well. JeM does huge damage and they are ruthless in their operations," Mehta told ET.
Most of the militants, who cross Line of Control, police say directly move towards south Kashmir via Bandipora and one or two groups have stayed in north Kashmir.
"They are exploiting internet to the best level. Either we have to somehow monitor Internet completely or do something else. They contact people on Facebook and Whats App and other applications," said Mehta. Another senior official added, " You will be amazed to see how freely they talk and even move in the cars from south to north. If they feel heat in south, they come to north Kashmir and stay here quietly."
A police official, who has interrogated many militants and OGWs arrested recently says, "Militancy is the only socially acceptable way to vent out their frustration. It is a conscious decision now where they know what their fate would be. These boys have become so familiar with death and dead bodies that they are more than ready to embrace it."
After the killing of several top commanders of Lashkar eToiba and Hizb ul Mujahideen in first six months of 2017, JeM came back on scene plotting spectacular attacks including one on Pulwama district lines, BSF camp outside Srinagar Airport and Lethpora CRPF installation.
