Pulwama attack: JeM planned to execute terror assault on Afzal Guru's death anniversary, say sources

JeM had planned to carry out their operation on February 9 which is terrorist Afzal Guru’s death anniversary, or on February 11, which is the death anniversary of Maqbool Bhat, the founder of the militant organisation National Liberation Front, but due to heavy snowfall the highway was shut and the attack could not be executed

JeM head Masood Azhar/ AFP PHOTO/Aamir QURESHI

New Delhi: In a major revelation in connection with the Pulwama terror attack that took place on Thursday in which 40 CRPF personnel were martyred, sources informed that the terrorists had initially planned to execute the attack on the death anniversary of Afzal Guru that falls on February 9. They said that the attack was perpetrated to avenge the death of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar’s nephew Usman Haider. It was earlier planned by the JeM terrorists to carry out their operation on February 9 which is terrorist Afzal Guru’s death anniversary, or on February 11, which is the death anniversary of Maqbool Bhat, the founder of the militant organisation National Liberation Front, but due to heavy snowfall the highway was shut and the attack could not be executed. Suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar, (who did the van ramming on February 14)  had gone to the Srinagar-Jammu highway on 2,6, and 8 February also. Full preparations were in place to execute attack on February 9, but snowfall prevented it. At first, they had planned to attack the army camp or by mine blast. Thrice, they attempted suicide bombing in the camp, but could not succeed. Eventually they planned to attack by ramming an explosive-laden vehicle, which is the tactical shift in terror attacks in Jammu Kashmir lately. The implementation of the plan began after Jaish commander Abdul Ghazi Rasheed, reached Kashmir. He is still suspected to be hidden in the Pulwama’s Tral region. Last year on October 31, Jaish chief Masood Azhar’s nephew Usman was killed in an encounter. February 14 attack was planned to avenge his death, sources said. On February 14, eventually JeM terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive laden van into a CRPF bus in the middle of a CRPF convoy, killing 40 personnel. Watch: