Terrorists may have shifted from Jammu to Valley: Intel agencies

With a surge in terror attacks and encounters in Kashmir region, intelligence agencies suspect that some of the highly trained terrorists operating in Jammu region might have shifted to Valley ahead of the winter season when the high mountain passes will shut due to heavy snow.

In recent past, Kashmir region has witnessed attacks on non-locals, gunfights with security forces and even an ambush on Army vehicle on October 24, which left two soldiers and two porters dead. The ambush was similar to the ones which took place in different parts of Jammu region during the past one year.

Security forces in Kashmir Valley have an upper hand over terrorists with most of ultras being eliminated after precise information about their presence. However, the new trend in which attacks are being conducted by highly trained ultras have left the security and intelligence apparatus in a tizzy.

Major terror attacks in Jammu region had started on the first day of 2023 when seven villagers were killed by armed ultras in Dhangri village of Rajouri. Thereafter, multiple attacks and ambushes were reported from different corners of Jammu region including Poonch, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Kishtwar and Doda districts.

It took nearly a year for the intelligence to strengthen the sources of ground information after which security forces got some success in elimination of ultras. More than 40 security forces personnel were killed in Jammu division during the past over one year.

Sources in Army intelligence informed that the joint teams of security forces have gained an upper hand in forest areas of Jammu division where the trained Pakistani ultras were hiding. “It seems that due to the pressure, some of the terrorists have now shifted to Kashmir region. Another factor is that ISI wants to show to the world that Kashmir region is still not peaceful and wants to keep it in news through these attacks,” said sources.

On November 2, two terrorists were killed in Anantnag while one was killed in Srinagar during separate encounters. Four policemen were also injured in these encounters.

Two non-local labourers were shot at by ultras and injured on November 1 evening in Budgam. On same evening, terrorists exchanged gunfire with security forces in Bandipora of North Kashmir.

On October 20, terrorists targeted an under construction tunnel in Ganderbal in which seven people were killed. On October 18, a migrant worker from Bihar was shot dead in Shopian.

Intelligence agencies believe that the terrorists operating in parts of J&K are battle hardened and are trained on Afghan front. Most of these ultras also carry US made M-4 carbine which suggest that the arms of NATO, which were left in Afghanistan, have fallen in the hands of terror groups based in Pakistan.