North Kashmir On High Alert As Intel Warns Of Pulwama-Type Terror Attack

According to sources, the alert was sounded after an ALTO car bearing registration number JK05F 4911 was stolen from DPS Colony during the intervening night of 8th and 9th July.

Photo: AFP

Jammu & Kashmir: Alert has been sounded across North and Central Kashmir after a car was stolen from Baramulla raising fears of a fidayeen style attack on forces along Baramulla-Srinagar National Highway. An intelligence input was already issued alerting about a possible Fidayeen strike using Moving vehicle improvised explosive devices (MVIED) to cause maximum damage.

According to sources, the alert was sounded after an ALTO car bearing registration number JK05F 4911 was stolen from DPS Colony during the intervening night of 8th and 9th July. The silver-coloured car was parked on the road outside the house when it was stolen, and the owner immediately reported it to police. FIR has been lodged by police and investigations are on, to locate the vehicle.

Before the theft, an alert had already been sounded in North Kashmir about the plot by three Lashkar-e-taiba militants, Headed by Pakistani militant Rahman Bhai to carry out Pulwama type attack with an MVID between Pattan in Baramulla and HMT in Srinagar.

According to sources, the militants had done a recce in the stretch of the Baramulla-Srinagar Highway with the help of OGWs and Rahman has asked his OGWs to procure a small car, preferably an Alto or Eon make, for the IED.

Intel inputs have even suggested that the group led by Rahman Bhai will carry out the attack and might use an ambulance to ferry the militants to carry out the attack on Convoy or a Naka.

A Senior officer of J&K police said that the foreign militants have been tasked to carry out attacks on security forces using fidayeen and MVIEDs to maximise damages. Adding to that, movement of the group has been reported from Pattan, Handwara and Sopore which have seen some attacks on the forces in the past few weeks as well.

After the alert, new guidelines have been issued to the forces on the ground to thwart the attack and also save the personnel on the ground. As per new orders, security forces have been asked to maintain an observant and alert with 360-degree visibility using modern technology continuously.

Forces have been asked to not make needless deployments of men in vulnerable locations like crowded streets, small lanes and bylanes, with maximum use of mobile bulletproof vehicles for patrolling the streets. ROP's have been asked to conduct road inspections, IED detections both before the deployment and withdrawal of troops.

After suffering huge losses in South Kashmir, militants have shifted base to North Kashmir where they have carried out a number of attacks on forces resulting in huge security forces casualties.

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