Suffering heavy casualties due to relentless operations by the security forces, Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) is now reportedly targeting ‘informers’ suspected to be helping the forces eliminate terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir. The security establishment is bracing for an onslaught by the terror group to avenge the killing of Tallah Rashid, nephew of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar in an encounter earlier this week.
Moreover, the JeM, despite suffering repeated reversals, has managed to lure and recruit the local youth to the outfit. In the wake of such alarming developments, the forces are not diluting the counter-insurgency operations even during winter months. Heavy snow generally deters terrorists from striking during winter months, but operational commanders are apprehensive that this year may see a spike in levels of violence during the winter too.
Sharing these concerns, sources in the security
establishment said on Saturday at least six ‘informers’ were killed by JeM in the last ten days to send a message that the terror group will brutally deal with any leak of information about it.
The JeM has also warned the local populace to refrain from participating in Sadhbhawana rallies organised by the Army to foster better relations by organising medical camps, coaching classes for young students and vocational courses for men and women.
More than 50 terrorists owing allegiance to JeM are now hiding in South and North Kashmir with most of them present in Hajin, about 25 km from Srinagar and officials admitted it is posing a major problem for the security forces. In fact, two operations in the last two days to nab some terrorists did not succeed as Hajin is densely populated and the commanders of wary of causing collateral damage during a fire fight, they said.
In order to negate this advantage, the counter-insurgency grid, involving the Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and State police, is mulling over “dealing with the situation there in detail.” Elaborating upon this aspect, sources said the forces will look for terrorists “portion by portion” by deployment of more personnel.
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As forces tighten grip on them,
J&K terrorists target informers
latest intelligence reports also indicate that JeM handlers sitting across the line of Control (loC) in Pakistan are waiting for an opportunity to push fresh groups of heavily armed infiltrators inside the Indian territory to carry out sensational strikes in the region.
In the last one year around 170 terrorists -- including top commanders of different outfits have been eliminated by the security forces, highest in the last one decade. At the same time several vital security installations were targeted by the suicide squad (fidayeen) of Pakistan-based terrorist outfits across Kashmir valley.
JeM cadre is known for carrying out fidayeen strikes on vital security installations and focus on imparting professional training to their young cadres.
Coupled with this factor, more than 80 local youth have joined terrorist groups, including the JeM, in the last eight months with an average of ten every month. This is also alarming as the entire last year saw only 60 odd young men picking up the gun, they said.
To counter this trend, the Army has decided to step up its Sadhbhawana effort to wean away the gullible minds. The next three months are crucial as school and college examinations get over and the institutions are closed for nearly two-and-half months. Similarly, the apple crop harvesting is over and the youth will be idle and may fall prey to propaganda by the terrorist groups to join them.
With fog engulfing major parts of North Indian States chances are that Pakistan may use porous border belt in Punjab in the adjoining areas of gateway of Jammu & Kashmir to push infiltrators inside the Indian territory.
The water bodies dotting the International Border across Jammu frontier also pose a challenge to the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans due to undulating hostile terrain in the vicinity. All the local formations of BSF deployed on the 194-km long border are now maintaining tight vigil especially during evening hours.
Apart from strengthening its defences along the forward posts, the BSF has been directed to keep local police and paramilitary forces in the loop in the second tier of security ring along the border areas to prevent any strike along the Jammu-Pathankot National highway.