New Delhi July 30, ( KINS ) : A high alert has been sounded in Jammu following inputs from intelligence agencies about Pakistan-backed terror organisations Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba planning to carry out attacks on temples to spark communal tensions. Sources said security has been beefed up across the city.
It has learnt that terror organisations may attempt to target temples in Jammu on August 5, which marks the second anniversary of abrogation of Article 370, and Independence Day on August 15.
As many as three recent incidents of IEDs being dropped by drones have suggested that Pakistan-backed terror organisations are looking to plant explosives at crowded places near temples in Jammu, security officials said.
At least three previous attempts of a terror plot have been foiled, a senior official in the North Block told India Today. Another officer said that drones have been used to ferry IEDs so that the receiver can plant them and carry out attacks.
In February, a seven kg improvised explosive device (IED) was found near the busy bus stand area in old Jammu city. Two persons were taken into custody in connection with the case.
The second incident took place on June 27 a day before a drone dropped explosives in the technical area of the Jammu Air Force station. The terrorist, identified as Nadeem Rather of TRF was arrested and a 5-kg IED was recovered from his possession.
Following his interrogation, the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two of his associates. The arrested were identified as residents of Kashmir.
The interrogation of the accused led the police to sound-off an alert in Jammu about a possible terror attack on the famous Raghunath temple. The police also did not rule out that more temples in Jammu city were on terror radar.
In the third incident, a drone flew in from Pakistan in the Akhnoor area of Jammu district on July 23rd. The drone was shot down and an IED of 5 kg was recovered. Sources in security agencies said all three incidents were part of attempts by terror groups to create communal tensions in J&K by targeting the city of temples.
In March 2002, terrorists stormed the historic Raghunath temple packed with devotees that left at least 13 people, including four women and two security personnel, dead while 50 others were injured.
The current ADGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh, was then the SSP at the time of the attack and led the counter-terror operations. Both LeT militants were killed.( Source India Today )
