With the killing of five heavily armed Pak infiltrators across Manawar river in Batal and Channi Prat area of Jogwan in Akhnoor sector, the Army has unfolded the major plan of the terrorists to target Shri Amarnath yatra and the vital defence instllations in Akhnoor and Jammu areas.
Maj Gen B S Jaswal of 10 Infantry Division, who had himself gone to the site of encounter across river Manawar despite very tough terrain of Kalidhar range near Sunderbani to supervise operation told that from the documents, diaries, letters and coded messages intercepted so far, it was concluded that this group had been assigned specific task. They were carrying sixteen improvised explosive devices (IEDs), advanced communication system, equipment and material to prepare IEDs besides a large quantity of arms and ammunition including four Ak 47 rifles.
Giving more details, Maj Gen Jaswal said that from a document recovered from the possession of the slain terrorists with some instructions, it transpired that their likely design could have been to move in the North—South direction along the Line of Control (LoC), for causing disruption/ damage to convoys and vehicles of security forces moving along Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch, Rajouri highways and other interior roads or possibly carryout terrorist strikes in depth area.
Responding to a question, the Army Commander said that movement from North to South may be part of their strategy. They must have changed their infiltration strategy and area of operation. He said they always keep on changing their infiltration and exfiltration routes and this movement towards downwards of Kalidhar indicates their specific motive. It was not easy to say whether it was infiltration or exfiltration. The circumstances, however, indicate it as an infiltration attempt.
The GOC said since the LoC is fenced, it is very difficult to cross over to this side of the Line of Control. Most of the nullahs have been plugged and strict vigil is maintained all along. He said presence of this group of militants was given by a local youth, who informed police and later it shared the information with the army which launched its operation. First day one militant was eliminated. Three were eliminated on Monday while a jawan—Naresh Salaria washed away in the nullah and later his body was recovered.
Referring to terrain, the GOC said that operation is being carried out in very rugged terrain characterised by hills with very sharp cuttings, thick waist high undergrowth and vegetation coupled with boulders in nullahs and rivulets. He said operation was still going on and two ultras were said to be firing intermittently and were trapped from all the sides. Apart from arms, ammunition and Rs 99,000 in Indian currency were recovered from the possession of the terrorists. Pairs of specially designed gloves to cross electrified fence were also recovered for the first time in this area which now has been fenced by Army.
Two ultras were trapped till 12.30 pm and later it was learnt that one more militant was killed by the troops. The operation was going on when the last reports came in.
SP Rural, Jammu S R Samuel and SDPO Akhnoor Sanjay Bansal, who were also camping at the site of encounter alongwith SHO Khour, Rajesh Jamwal quoting local sources said that 10 to 12 armed militants were noticed by a few villagers on July 2 in the forest area of Channi Parat. They informed Jogwan police. The information was later passed on to the local Army unit which launched operation immediately. The guides are believed to have managed to escape.
Since the Amarnath Yatra has started, the evidence gathered so far from their possession and the recovery of large number of IEDs with them, indicates that they were planning to target yatra and cause massive damage to vital installations besides attacking convoy on the highways.
He said as per initial information
gathered from a village youth, a group of 10 to 12 ultras apparently including
two guides were seen taking rest under the shade of a tree. And the subsequent
information gathered from the hamlets of the area, indicated that they
were moving downward, may be on the suggestion of their guides. Mr Samuel
said while four have been eliminated, two are said to be trapped, the others
must have been slipped towards that side of the LoC or adjoining thick
forests. However, the operation is still going on. He said the Police and
the civilian population was assisting the Army to eliminate terrorists.