NEW DELHI: A separate module is suspected to be active in Batpora, which is headed by Showkat, who may have infiltrated Panzgam in August last year. It is learnt that Showkat and another LeT commander Irshad alias Naveed could be behind attack on BSF convoy in Pampore on August 12, 2014.
Chatters between terrorists and their handlers based in Pakistan intercepted by central intelligence agencies indicate that Showkat and Naveed could be operating from their hideouts in Padderpora, Nagbal, Pampore and Galender after their associate Huzaifa was killed by the security forces. The intercepts also found their footprints in Charsoo, Nehama, Lam and Lasipora. The sources pointed out local support to the terrorist commander adding that at least three LeT over-ground operatives—Haseeb, Adnan and Shariq—might be providing logistical support to the terrorists coming from Pakistan. These three operatives, security establishment suspects, are operating from Ratsuna and Buchu area of Tral and a massive operation has been launched to neutralise them.
A manhunt has also been launched to target another LeT commander Waseem Shah alias Abu Usman. According to sources, Shah was trained by LeT in Pakistan and after arrest of Naved (the Udhampur attacker), security and intelligence agencies have launched an operation to flush out Shah (codenamed Abu Usman) and two of his deputies—Adil and Mushtaq. Shah, sources said, could be behind the last month attack on a Deputy Sarpanch in Pehlepora village of Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir. In May, security forces had busted a hideout in Shopian and recovered arms, ammunition, GPS set and a Thuraya satellite phone. The terrorists, however, gave the slip to the raiding party. According to sources, the hideout was possibly linked to Abu Usman who, they suspect, may have made Heff Shirmal and Chak Yaripora as his safe hideout.
The Sunday Standard in July had reported that LeT Commander Abu Qasim and his deputy Abu Dujana were helping Pakistan-trained terrorists to mount attacks in the hinterland. Electronic interception had indicated that Qasim and Dujana were moving in the areas of Bogund, Baan and Khudwani.
THE CHALLENGE OF PAKISTAN: It is not just LeT but penetration of two other major terror outfits, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and Jaish-e-Mohammad, in the valley poses serious challenge for Team Doval. According to sources, these outfits too are shifting the focus on to the hinterland beyond the Valley in order to garner maximum propaganda. In the last seven months, at least 51 terrorists were neutralised by the security forces. According to government data, in 2014, a total 110 terrorists were killed in encounters with security forces. However, trained by Pakistan-based terror outfits and sponsored by the ISI, they keep coming to India to carry out strikes.
According to top officials, at least 80 terrorists killed by security forces since January 2014 were Pakistani nationals. They said despite the heat, the outfit is getting fresh recruits which remain a serious issue. An officer said HuM, which was recently in the news for massive recruitment of local youth, has made several hideouts in Roohu, Rampora, Yasoo, Hawoora and Mishpora of Kulgam district to facilitate the terrorist activities. An old franchise of Pakistan’s ISI, HuM said to have the cadre strength of at least 500 terror modules in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
HuM commander Altaf Ahmad alias Moieen was suspected to have been killed in June during an anti-terror operation by security forces in Kulgam. However, sources said his deputies, Zaffar and Amin, are suspected to be active and a hunt is on to neutralise their activities. Sources noted that Zaffar and Amin could be behind attacks on security forces at Mirgund in Baramula on July 31.
A source told The Sunday Standard that HuM is getting massive local support and several youths are suspected to have joined its local commander Burhandin Wani, who is said to have established a hideout in Doodhkulian forest. Wani’s deputy and aide Abid Ahmad Khan alias Hamza was killed by security forces during an encounter earlier in January. Sources said at least six youths may have joined Wani in recent months and intelligence inputs suggest they could be operating in Baigpora, Tukuna and Dadsara areas.
“We have also noted sudden spurt in activities of JeM in Satoora and Lam areas. It is not yet clear about its strength but is suspected that at least three Pakistani terrorists, including JeM commander Saleem and his deputy Waleed, could be active in the region,” sources added.
JeM was launched in 2000 by Maulana Masood Azhar, after he was released in the IC-814 hostage swap deal by India on December 31, 1999, and is responsible for audacious ‘fidayeen’ attack on Parliament in 2001.
The biggest challenge for Team Doval would be to stop the recruitment and take proactive action against the recruiters within the state. Besides, he has another tough job to plug the gaps on the international border to counter the ever changing infiltration routes which threatens to engulf the relatively peaceful region of Jammu sector.