Lok Sabha polls on terrorists' radar? Pakistan training 300 suicide bombers, Narendra Modi on the hit list

New Delhi:  Unseasonal snow and avalanche in Kashmir last week forced the militants change their plan from carrying out attacks in the Valley and instead shift focus to non-snow bound areas in Jammu-Pathankot sector. In a modus operandi similar to last year's attack in the Army camp in Samba, three suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants wearing Army combat uniform killed a civilian, a driver and a soldier guarding an Army camp gate and injured three others.

 

The militants first hijacked a Bolero vehicle near a bridge in Hiranagar area in Kathua district near Jammu. They sprayed bullets killing one person and injuring rest three and hijacked the car and its driver.  Body of the driver too was later recovered. The militants then moved towards an Army camp where they were engaged in a gun fight with guards of 111 Rocket regiment. Lance Naik V. Anthony died due to bullet injuries while another guard is injured. All the three

terrorists were later killed by the security forces.

 

Incidentally, during the attack on Army camp at Samba last year, the militants used the same route and modus operandi of hijacking a vehicle. However, with increased alertness this time they failed to enter the Army establishment.

 

Sources said there was a specific alert that young men in 17 training camps spread across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would strike India as it gears up for general elections. Security agencies have claimed that radio and signal intercepts made over the last few days indicated Pakistan based terrorists were getting active to enter India.

 

Heavily armed with shoulder fired weapons, guns fitted with under barrel grenade launchers these militants are believed to making attempts to cross over the LoC mainly from north of Pir Panjal for quicker access to the Valley from Kupwara, Baramulla sides to carry out attacks. But with sudden snow and avalanche in that area forced them to shift strategy and move towards Jammu area.  Security agencies have also noted a shift of the militants training camps from the

southern side of Pir Panjal to the Northern side.

 

A military official said that terrorists will try to increase their footprints during the elections. According to intelligence agencies, large scale militant attacks is likely to take place in the run up to the Lok Sabha in April-May and J&K Assembly elections in December. Jaish-e-Mohmmad chief Maulana Masood Azhar in a recent rally held in Muzaffarabad (POK) had said that he has a team of 300 suicide bombers ready to attack India. Azhar has also threatened to kill Gujarat Chief

Minister Narendra Modi if he becomes the Prime Minister. Incidentally, today's attack comes two days after Modi held his rally in Jammu. 

 

"This is indicative of the fact that more violence is being planned," said a security official.