3 Attacks In J&K In 72 Hours: Central Agencies Suspect New Local Network Helping Foreign Terrorists

A new terror network of on-ground workers, locals and local terrorists is suspected to be helping foreign terrorists who were involved in the three attacks in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in the past 72 hours, according to central intelligence agencies. Eleven people were killed and close to 50 injured in the attacks.

In each of these attacks, the suspected foreign terrorists got exact information about the escape routes, locations, and camps of security forces, which have raised an alarm. Agencies are suspecting that there is a new or refreshed network of local support which is providing the help, including logistical support.

Top sources in the J&K Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and intelligence agencies said these attacks were desperate attempts by terrorist groups, especially after India successfully conducted the Lok Sabha elections in J&K.

Sources said there were inputs that around 70-80 foreign terrorists had infiltrated a few weeks ago. They acquired weapons, found easy shelter and food, got information about forces’ camps, learned how to reach specific locations, and gathered details about isolated places, making it easy to flee after the attacks. These foreign terrorists are suspected to be coordinating with locals, who may have even accompanied them to the spots, said sources.

THE CONCERNS

Forces and agencies hinted that they suspect that there could be more terrorists in Jammu. It is also suspected that these groups are working in a coordinated manner to carry out the attacks.

Raising the security grid’s concerns is how the terrorists managed to flee. “The way they left the attack site without knowing all routes shows that a local person may have accompanied and guided them. Additionally, after firing, local support ensured they got shelter and necessary information about troop movements through open sources,” a senior government official supervising the anti-terror operations in J&K told News18.

Another official said that these terrorists have refreshed the local support network, involving that of on-ground workers, local terrorists and likely a few locals too.

THE ATTACKS

In the past 72 hours, three attacks were reported in the Jammu region.

Terrorists attacked a village near the International Border on Tuesday evening, injuring a civilian.

During a subsequent search operation, two terrorists, believed to have infiltrated from across the border, were killed.

Confirming the details, Anand Jain, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, said, “Two terrorists appeared to have freshly infiltrated from across the border surfaced in Saida Sukhal village around 8pm, and asked for water from a household. People got frightened. As soon as information was received, a police team headed by a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) and a Station House officer (SHO) rushed to the village.”

Prior to these attacks, in one of the biggest incidents since the abrogation of Article 370, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra in Reasi on Sunday. Due to firing from different directions, the bus plunged into a deep gorge, causing nine fatalities and injuring 41 others.