NIA, SIA teams join investigations; TRF under scanner
Security forces will hunt down those responsible: LG
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 9: After a long time, the militants triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on a ‘rehri’ at Slathia Chowk in the heart of Udhampur town this afternoon killing one person and wounding 16 others including a child and causing panic among the people leading to closure of market and brief suspension of traffic.
Teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and State Investigation Agency (SIA) rushed to the spot for investigations though the case has so far not been handed over to any of the two. However, there were indications that the case might go to the SIA.
The blast occurred at 12.15 pm when Slathia Chowk was abuzz with visitors as it has a hotel, rehris and people selling other eatables around.
The low-intensity blast was reportedly triggered by the militants to make their presence felt as Udhampur has Northern Command headquarters of the Army and VVIP visits are scheduled in Jammu and Kashmir in next few days. Click here to watch video
“The militants are unable to cause sensational strike and they choose the crowded area to target the innocent people,” a police official said.
Additional DGP Jammu Zone Mukesh Singh, who visited the spot for investigations along with DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range Suleman Choudhary, SSP Udhampur Vinod Kumar and SHO Chaman Gorkha, confirmed that the blast was triggered by an IED of very low intensity.
“Impact of the explosion was confined to very limited area,” Singh said.
He added that Forensic and Ballistic experts have been called to ascertain reasons behind the explosion. However, he said, it appeared to be a localized blast.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the IED had reportedly been kept either inside or on top of a tomato box which went off. It is yet to be ascertained whether the blast was triggered by a time device or through remote control.
Dead and injured had splinters on their persons.
“It appeared that the militant kept IED concealed in a bag on the rehri and left in the rush. However, all these angles are matter of investigation,” sources said.
Blast triggered panic in the area for a while with people running for safety. However, police personnel reached the spot and shifted injured to the District Hospital Udhampur where one of them was declared dead while 16 others were admitted as injured one of whom was later referred to the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu in view of his critical condition.
Security agencies believed that the militant might have travelled from Kashmir or Doda belt to cause the terror act.
There has been no major terror act in Udhampur in the past few years as militants travelling from Kashmir or Doda belt generally have Jammu as their target.
Another possibility being explored is that the IED might have been packed in the box.
Besides police personnel, the teams of NIA and SIA also visited the spot for investigation of the nature of blast and how it was planted at one of the busiest Chowks.
Sources indicated that the blast case might be handed over to the SIA for investigations but no decision has been taken so far. The SIA has been investigating seizure of Rs 43 lakh worth cash at Nagrota last year which was being smuggled by the militants from Punjab to South Kashmir. While three suspects were arrested on spot, five others were later nabbed from Punjab and Haryana.
Security has been intensified in Udhampur town and outskirts including Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. However, life returned to normal a couple of hours after the blast.
Intelligence agencies were of the view that there have been attempts by the militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and The Resistance Front to revive militancy in peaceful districts of the Jammu region. The TRF is, however, on radar of the security agencies.
The person who died in the blast has been identified as 35-year-old Jugal Kumar, a resident of Danal Johnu Dalpad. His 27-year- old wife Anita and eight month-old son Varun were among the injured.
A 25-year-old labourer from Dolpur, Rajasthan identified as Hira Lal sustained serious injuries and has been shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu.
Other injured include Soni Kumar, 46, R/o Kot Patyari, Sahil Kumar, 25, a resident of Pakhalai, Anil Kumar, 19 of Bvalli Nalla, Ashok Kumar, 47 R/o Sarsoo, Rakesh Kumar, 40, a resident of Barmeen, who owned the ‘Rehri’ where the blast occurred, Amit Kumar of Bant, Bodh Raj, 60, a resident of Gole Mella, Om Prakash, 60, R/o Hartyan Baletar, Kaku Ram, 50, R/o Kaghote, Raju Ram, 37, hailing from Kuprella, Kuldeep Kumar, 46 R/o Kuprella, Sushma Devi R/o Rathiana and Raju, 27, R/o Bani in Kathua district.
Condition of all injured admitted in the District Hospital in Udhampur is stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh said one person was killed and 10 others were injured in the blast. The injured were shifted to hospital.
“I am in touch with DC Indu Chib on minute-to-minute basis. Exact cause and origin of the blast being worked out…Too early to draw any definite conclusion,” Dr Jitendra Singh tweeted.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha offered condolences to the family of blast victim Jugal Kumar.
“My deepest condolences are with family of Jugal Kumar, who lost his life in IED explosion. Directed district administration Udhampur to render all assistance to kin of victim and those injured. I strongly condemn this heinous terrorist attack, Our security forces will hunt down those responsible,” the Office of LG J&K tweeted.
YP Bourney, Chairman District and Legal Services Authority Udhampur (Principal District and Session Judge), Secretary DLSA, Sub Judge Rajni Sharma along with team visited the District Hospital Udhampur and met the injured.
Major terror attacks in Udhampur
On May 11, 2011, militants had triggered an explosive device in Udhampur town in which a Major General rank officer of the Army had narrow escape while a milk vendor was killed and 10 others were injured. The target was an Army officer then posted as Commandant in the Command Hospital in Udhampur, who was on his way to office in the official vehicle.
On August 5, 2015, two BSF jawans were killed and eight others injured when two Pakistani militants attacked a bus in Samroli area of Udhampur. One of the militants was gunned down while another was captured alive by the villagers.
Two IED blasts were triggered by the militants between Kud and Patnitop in Udhampur district, leading to casualties, long back
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