Srinagar, Aug 13 (KINS ) Militants made abortive attempts to cause widespread disturbance ahead of 75th Independence Day (ID) celebrations in the Kashmir valley by attacking a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy, planting a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and lobbing hand grenade during the past 24 hours.
However, alert security forces scuttled these attempts by neutralizing a top Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) foreign militant in an encounter in Kulgam on Srinagar-Jammu highway and recovering arms and ammunition, including a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) which was being used in early 90s in Kashmir and Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan to target camps and bunkers.
Describing the killing of LeT militant Usman and recovery of RPG a major success for security forces, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range, K Vijay Kumar said the slain militant (Usman) was an associate of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) top foreign commander Lamboo alias Adnan who was also killed in an encounter recently.
Attack on BSF convoy and recovery of RPG and other arms and ammunition from Usman in Kulgam encounter which ended this morning confirms Pakistani’s involvement, Mr Kumar said.
After long time RPG was recovered from a militant after encounter. In early 90s militants were using sophisticated weapons, particularly RPG to target security force bunkers and camps from a distance in the Kashmir valley. During the I-Day and Republic Day celebrations, militants were firing rockets, grenades and other explosives towards the main venue of these functions at Bakshi Stadium. However, from 1996 such attacks were prevented after government imposed curfew restrictions besides intensified night and foot patrolling in and around the venue during these functions.
Security forces in the border have recovered RPG and other heavy weapons in 20s also.
This is for the first time after more than two decades RPG was recovered at the encounter site after killing of militant.
However, another militant flee from the encounter site at Kulgam where encounter ensued after BSF convoy was attacked at Malpora Mirbazar in Kulgam on the highway yesterday afternoon.
Traffic on the highway was disrupted for about 20 hours as a precautionary measure because of Kulgam encounter.
Militants also had planted a powerful IED on the roadside at Dadsar Tral in Pulwama to target security forces in the wee hours of Friday. However, the Road Opening Party (ROP) detected the IED which was later defused by Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) without causing any damage. Had it not been detected and defused it would have caused much damage to life and property, official sources said.
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan and two civilians were injured in a militant hand grenade attack near State Bank of India (SBI) in the main town of apple township of Sopore in Baramulla district.
The IGP Kumar said security forces have already been put on high alert in the valley, including Srinagar, where drones are being used to keep a strict vigil on the movement of pedestrian and vehicles.
All roads leading to S K cricket stadium in high security Sonawar area have been closed for any civilian movement. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha will unfurl the national flag and also took salute at the march-past on August 15.
Similar I-Day celebrations will also be held at all district and tehsil headquarters in the valley.
