BJP calls for thorough probe into SMHS attack

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: BJP today called for a thorough inquiry into the terror attack in SMHS hospital in Srinagar, saying Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI has evolved a new strategy of freeing terrorists from police custody.
Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists yesterday attacked a police team accompanying a group of militants for checkup at SMHS hospital, killing two policemen and freeing a hardcore Pakistani militant arrested in 2014.
“In order to overcome the dearth of Pakistani commanders and terrorists, who mastermind and execute terrorist acts at the behest of ISI, it has now evolved the new strategy of freeing them from police custody and organise their escapes,” spokesperson of BJP, Anil Gupta, said in a statement here.
He said despite unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan targeting the civilian population and creating a fear-psychosis among the border and LoC dwellers, Pakistan has failed repeatedly in its endeavour to push terrorists into the Indian side.
Condemning the terrorist incident, Gupta said Pakistan’s involvement in the act is “obvious”
“..Because out of the six terrorists taken for medical check-up to the hospital, only the Pakistani terrorist among them was freed from the clutches of the police by his colleagues,” said Gupta.
“It is similar to the strategy of looting banks and cash vans to overcome the lack of financial resources due to tightening the screws on terror funding from Pakistan,” he said.
Gupta said daring attacks on jails or jail breaks with the help of “black sheep” also form part of the “new strategy”.
“The unified command under the leadership of Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) needs to plan a counter-strategy immediately,” the leader of the BJP, which shares power with the PDP in the state, said.
Gupta said the attack appeared to be “a pre-planned operation” in which involvement of some insiders cannot be ruled out.
“A thorough inquiry needs to be done to ascertain manifold lapses and identification of black sheep who assisted in the whole plan. Rooting out these black sheeps is mandatory for elimination of terrorism from the State,” Gupta said.