Foreign terrorists swell the ranks in Valley ahead of Amarnath Yatra
The ranks of foreign terrorists in Kashmir Valley have swelled up alarmingly ahead of the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra even as the security establishment is wary of the terrorists triggering incidents that could flare up communal passions during the 40-day pilgrimage starting June 29.
From around 90 foreign terrorists to 140 now, the increase in the number is worrying as these terrorists with no sentimental values attached are only out to carry attacks at any cost. Any untoward incident during the Yatra could have repercussions in other parts of the State, sources said on Saturday. The security grid has hence been so laid out that it covers all approach routes to the holy shrine with soldiers also guarding the hill tops overlooking the cave 24X7. Electronic surveillance, including drones and radars, are also deployed to detect and neutralise any threat.
Coupled with the threat to the Yatra, the security forces are also bracing for a spike in violence levels in Kashmir from next week as terrorist leaders are likely to exhort the people to observe the first death anniversary of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, they said. He was killed in an encounter on July 8 leading to nearly a five-month-long unrest in the Valley.
Mass movement like bandhs may take place and terrorists may target sensitive installations besides security forces, including the Army, paramilitary forces and local police. At least, 17 policemen have died this year including seven in the last fortnight itself. The lynching of Deputy Superintendent Mohammad Ayoub Pandith on Friday was an attempt to demoralise the police, the sources said.
The security forces are apprehensive about the foreign terrorists, mostly belonging to Pakistan-based lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad, as they will try to attack convoys and camps of pilgrims en route the holy cave. With no stakes in the State, these terrorists will also attempt to ambush security patrols and their convoys triggering fire fights, which may lead to collateral damage, they said.
Explaining the rationale of local terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen refraining from targeting the pilgrimage, sources said more than one lakh locals earn their livelihood during the Yatra, be it running dhabas or small shops or ferrying pilgrims on horseback.
Moreover, an attack on the Yatra will earn a bad name for the terrorists who claim to be fighting for a just cause, officials said. Several political parties have already given a call to have a peaceful Yatra which has put pressure on the local militants to avoid any incident during the period.
The 290-km-long Yatra has 120 km passing through the restive Valley, which is already witnessing stone-pelting and increased attacks. The Army has deployed nearly 3,000 additional troops along the National Highway-44. Another batch of additional 2,000 troops is guarding the two routes, Pahalgam and Baltal, to the shrine.
This deployment has freed up the troops already stationed there to guard the highway and fan out in the interiors of South Kashmir including vulnerable roads to intensify vigil. The increased tempo of operations is aimed at preventing free movement of foreign terrorists in the remote parts of the region and the coming days will see encounters, they said.
Since the Yatra begins from Jammu, the Inspector General of Jammu Zone has directed security forces to organise night patrolling on National Highway regularly. To maintain tight vigil in and around base camps set up for pilgrims in Jammu and in Kashmir, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has decided to deploy drones. Dog squads, Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) equipped with state-of-the-art communication equipment and armed with lethal weapons will remain deployed along the Yatra.
According top priority to the Yatra, the Core Group Security meeting was held at Nagrota on Saturday to carry out a security review. The meeting was co-chaired by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps, lt Gen AK Sharma and Jammu & Kashmir Police Director General SP Vaid. The intelligence updates to review security threats to the Amarnath Yatra were discussed in detail.
Northern Command chief lt Gen D Anbu visited formations in South Kashmir and took stock of the security arrangements for the Yatra. The commander stressed on the need for close coordination with the civil administration to ensure a smooth and efficient conduct of the annual pilgrimage, officials said. Anbu later called on Jammu & Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and discussed the prevailing situation, they said.