Two militants arrested in Poonch, Kishtwar
*Bandh in Rajouri, cash haul in Surankote
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 13: Police and BSF today foiled major terror plot by the militants by recovering four sticky bombs from Mendhar town in Poonch district which were to be used for causing serial blasts, most likely on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations. A militant, who was transporting the sticky bombs, has been arrested.
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Police nabbed another militant in Kishtwar and recovered arms, ammunition and explosives from his possession while there has been no breakthrough in last night’s terror attack on BJP Mandal President Jasbir Singh and his family at Rajouri town in which two-year-old nephew of the BJP leader was killed and six family members were injured even as complete shutdown was observed in the town in protest against the attack. Army and police busted a hideout in Doda.
Police tonight recovered huge cash in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district. Sources said it is being ascertained whether the cash is hawala or stolen amount.
Investigations are on and couple of suspects have been detained.
Police officials told the Excelsior that joint team of 72 BSF and Mendhar Police laid special naka at Morh Katan after developing specific inputs that a militant was transporting four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which had been converted into sticky bombs by the militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit for targeting Independence Day celebrations.
The militant was nabbed at the naka and from his possession, BSF and police recovered four sticky bombs and Rs 10,500 cash.
DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range Vivek Gupta and SSP Poonch Vinod Kumar supervised the operation.
“This is only for the second time that sticky bombs have been recovered in the Jammu region,” Gupta said, adding that on February 13 this year, 15 sticky bombs were seized for the first time along the International Border in Samba district.
Sources said the sticky bombs had to be used by the militants for triggering serial blasts within a span of 15-20 minutes and possibility that the explosive devices were to be used on Independence Day is not ruled out as the militant was transporting them just two days ahead of the celebrations.
“Sticky bombs is a new phenomenon as they are fitted with magnet and can be easily attached to a vehicle to trigger explosion with a time device,” they said.
“It is a coin-shaped magnet at the bottom of a small container that enables the assailant to stick the bomb to a metal surface, with the target mostly being a moving vehicle. Unlike remote control sticky bombs, these ones are switch bombs, with a timer of 5-10 minutes, which gives enough time to the militants to flee,” sources said.
In today’s recoveries, timing of explosion had been written on the explosive devices with a pen.
Police identified the arrested militant as Mehmood Hussain son of Mohammad Munshi, a resident of Kasbalari. An FIR No. 313/2021 under Section 23 Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has been registered at Mendhar Police Station in connection with recovery of sticky bombs and further investigations are on.
“The arrested person is being grilled to ascertain identity of the militants who gave him sticky bombs and the militants to whom the consignment had to be delivered,” sources said, adding that questioning is at preliminary stage and more arrests are on the cards.
Sources said Mehmood Hussain appears to be an IED expert and consignment of sticky bombs had been delivered to him from across the Line of Control by militant commanders of the LeT outfit.
Asked whether there was any link between recent arrest of two persons with Rs 25 lakh worth hawala money and today’s recovery of sticky bombs, sources said both the seizures appeared to be linked to one particular network of the LeT outfit.
Meanwhile, Kishtwar Police today arrested another militant, third during this week, and recovered ammunition and explosives from his possession.
The militant has been identified as Muzammil Hussain son of Abdul Rashid Shah. a resident of village Meerna Patimohalla in Palmar area of Kishtwar.
He was nabbed from village Meerna in Palmar. Recoveries made from his possession include one grenade, one AK-47 magazine and 30 AK rounds.
The arrest was made by 17 RR, 52 CRPF and local police.
Two fresh recruits of Hizbul Mujahideen were nabbed in Kishtwar early this week. Muzammil was also a new recruit.
Meanwhile, a shutdown was observed in Rajouri town today to protest the attack on BJP leader Jasbir Singh’s house last night that left a two-year-old boy dead and six family members injured.
Scores of people, some of them BJP workers, also took out a protest rally denouncing the attack. They raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
All shops were shut and there was no traffic on roads in Rajouri town.
Agitators blocked a highway on a call by the Sanatan Dharam Sabha.
Protesters blamed chinks in the security apparatus for the attack. They said the militants are roaming freely and attacking BJP leaders with grenades.
People took out a rally from Khandli, the residence of the BJP leader, to Panja Chowk and staged dharna for two hours saying local police has done nothing to prevent such attacks and nab the militants. They also demanded strengthening of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs).
District police and civil administration assured the protesters that their all concerns will be addressed after which they lifted dharna.
Bandh was, however, complete in Rajouri town. Majority community also joined the bandh and condemned the terror attack on the house of the BJP leader last night.
Meanwhile, as per police sources, Hizbul Mujahideen most likely appeared to have carried out the grenade attack. However, no breakthrough has been made so far.
Injured BJP leader Jasbir Singh and his mother have been airlifted to the Military Hospital Udhampur. Rest of the injured were stable.
Meanwhile, Additional DGP Jammu Mukesh Singh and Divisional Commissioner Raghav Langar visited the residence of BJP leader Jasbir Singh and offered condolences on the death of his infant nephew and injuries to others. Mukesh Singh assured the family that perpetrators of the attack will be nabbed soon.
Meanwhile, RR Bhaderwah, police and 7th battalion of SSB today recovered arms and ammunition from a natural hideout at Sarola forests in Doda.
Recoveries include one Chinese pistol, one 12 bore rifle, two country made hand guns, five Chinese grenades and large quantity of ammunition.
Cache was 10 to 14 years old, sources said.
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