National

Report Says Rajouri Sector Targeted For Infiltration Bid; In-depth Probe To Be Conducted

As per sources, there are four launching pads on the Pakistani side near the Rajouri sector. Around 25-30 terrorists are planning to infiltrate India using these launching pads at Kotli, Lanjote, Nikail, and Khuiretta.

Representational Image
info_icon

According to an intelligence report accessed by media organizations, Pakistan-based terrorists are targeting the forward defence locations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector in a bid to infiltrate into India.

What does the intelligence report say?

As per the report, four launching pads have been identified on the Pakistani side near the Rajouri sector where around 25-30 terrorists are planning to infiltrate India using these launching pads at Kotli, Lanjote, Nikail, and Khuiretta. All these locations fall in POK in front of the Rajouri sector, from where a big infiltration bid is being prepared.

An alert has been issued in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir as the terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) are planning to target civilians, as per the report.

This comes after five civilians were killed in two separate attacks in the same area in less than 24 hours. Sunday's attack has triggered protests and strikes in Rajouri as people blamed the local administration for the security lapse.

In-depth probe will be conducted:  J-K LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday night said an in-depth probe will be conducted into the "security lapses" in the wake of twin terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

Sinha chaired a security review meeting with top officials from police, Army and CAPFs in Rajouri and called for a detailed probe into the terror attacks that took place in Dhangri village.

DGP Dilbag Singh; ACS, Home, R K Goyal; Divisional Commissioner Jammu; ADGP Jammu; and leaders of various political parties were present in the meeting, which was also attended by the families of the victims and the village sarpanch.

"Some people raised the issue of security lapses, an inquiry will be conducted to find out (whether there were any such lapses). On the basis of inquiry, action will be taken," Sinha told reporters.

He said the Army was also conducting operations in the area and “we will try to take strong action in days to come in this area".

The LG said “two to three decisions were taken” in the meeting.

We will settle scores with those involved in this act, he added.

Asked whether the administration will set up security posts in villages for the security of minorities, he said whatever measures will be required, will be taken.

Sinha also asserted that the administration would strengthen village defence committees (VDCs).  The VDCs set up in mid-1990s have proved a stone wall defence against millitancy in remote hilly areas of the Jammu region, according to officials.

Earlier, the families of the victims had refused to conduct the last rites of the victims till the Lt Governor came to the spot.

After Sinha visited them, they ended the protest and shifted the six bodies from Dhangri chowk to a government higher secondary school for the night so as carry out their cremation on Tuesday.

Sinha said that the administration was committed to look after the needs and issues of the families as well as the people of the district.

The LG also held a meeting with the sarpanch of Dangri village, DDC and BDC members and the families of victims, sources said.

"We have given full freedom to the security forces and I want to assure the people that the perpetrators of this attack will be punished soon. Terrorists will have to pay a very heavy price for this despicable attack. It is our firm resolve to crush terrorists and terror ecosystem," Sinha said.

He also said VDCs will be strengthened immediately.

The Lt Governor also announced Rs 10 lakh each and a government job to the next of the kin of the deceased.

IED blast in Rajouri

In an apparent security lapse, two cousins -- aged four and 16 -- were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in Dhangri village in Rajouri area on Monday, 14 hours after terrorists had shot dead four people there.

The terrorists, locals claimed, had planted the IED on Sunday itself and it was missed during the scanning by police and security officials who had cordoned off the area after the shootings last evening.

(With PTI Inputs)