NEW DELHI: Target Terrorist Commanders’ is the message from superspy and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, a dreaded figure in Pakistan and most feared by terrorist outfits sponsored by the ISI, after back-to-back fidayeen attacks targeted Gurdaspur in Punjab and Udhampur in J&K, killing a total of nine people in both the states and injuring 20 others on July 27 and August 5 respectively.
Doval held several meetings with top officials of the security and intelligence establishment after the July 27 attack to neutralise the terrorists in the areas where they are suspected to be thriving. Sources said the recent infiltration and attacks were coordinated by at least three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commanders, including two Pakistani nationals. At least 15 LeT operatives, which include seven Pakistani, and 22 Hizb-ul Mujahideen terrorists operating from at least 26 hideouts have also been identified by the agencies.
Doval’s directive in the wake of confessions by arrested Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Naved has been conveyed to the agencies to launch headhunting in the identified areas.
Top sources said that terrorists, who sneaked into Indian territory from Pakistan, may be getting help from various other commanders operating in the Kashmir Valley. It appears from the input generated by the agencies that Pakistan-based handlers have been able to install and strengthen the over-ground team to handle different modules infiltrating, before the winter sets in.
Apart from Abu Qasim and Abu Dujana, the security establishment has identified several battle-hardened LeT terrorists who are suspected to have helped LeT suicide attacker Noman. Citing intelligence inputs, sources said their footprints have been identified in Reban, Bogund and Chinigam areas of the Kashmir Valley. LeT operative Majid Zargar, the sources confirmed, is assisted by his two deputies — Ahmad and Mudassir — both trained by LeT in its camp in Muridke and Muzaffarabad. Pugmarks of Zargar, Ahmad and Mudassir have been tracked by agencies in Arwani, Quimoh, Wampora, Redwani, Kujjar, Baan and Chadder areas of the Valley. A close aide of Zargar, Javaid was killed in June by security forces.