Introduction: LeT ultra makes sensational revelations
Family of Army chief Gen Nirmal Chander Vij has been shifted to Army Cantonment from his ancestral house in Naraniyan Mohalla near Kachi Chawni, close to the BJP headquarters in heart of the City following a sensational disclosure made by a militant, recently arrested by the security forces in Mendhar, that the house was on "hit list" of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants.
"Initially a massive security ring was thrown by police in the house of Gen Vij, located in congested locality of Naraniyan Mohalla, as soon as an information was received by Jammu Police from the security forces in Mendhar that the militants had formulated a plan to attack Army chief’s house", official sources told EXCELSIOR.
However, according to sources, the police experts opined that it wouldn’t be possible for the cops to counter a militant attack in the house which was located in densely populated locality. Moreover, they said, there was a great threat to civilian lives in the area in case of a strike.
Therefore, the sources added, the top brass of police, in consultation with the army officers, decided to shift the family members of Army chief to Army Cantonment, the high security zone, in Gandhi Nagar. While wife and children of Gen Vij are already staying in New Delhi, his brothers and parent were reportedly staying in their ancestral house. Gen Vij had also visited his house, where he stayed till his schooling, once after taking over the coveted post of Army chief early this year.
"Ultimately, the army authorities have decided to shift entire family of Gen Vij to a security zone in New Delhi", the sources disclosed saying "the threat perception to his family was very high".
According to sources, a militant of LeT outfit was recently captured alive by the security forces in Mendhar sector in Poonch district during an encounter. Identified as Sajjad alias Abu Haneef, the militant during his sustained interrogation by the security officers has revealed that he and his slain associate Abu Khaleefa (code name) had been assigned among others a task to carry out a fidayeen attack on the house of Army chief at Naraniyan Mohalla.
A map carrying location of the house of Gen Vij was also recovered from the possession of Abu Haneef, the sources said, adding the security forces immediately communicated the disclosures to top brass of army and police in Jammu.
The militant also named a couple of local suspects in Jammu, who, according to him, were expected to assist them in the task especially for carrying out recee of the Army chief’s house. However, police couldn’t locate the suspects since their identity and addresses, available with the militant, turned out to be fake, they pointed out.
Prior to the militant’s disclosures, about half a dozen army personnel had been deployed in the ancestral house of Gen Vij for protection of the family members, staying there. "Soon after the disclosures, a strong contingent of Jammu Police was deployed in the house," the sources said but added that "the top brass of army and police preferred to keep the Army chief’s family in most protected zone in the Army Cantonment".
According to sources, a detailed interrogation report of Sajjad alias Abu Haneef was likely to be sent to the senior officers of army and police very soon. Sajjad has disclosed that a conspiracy to carry out a fidayeen attack on Gen Vij’s house was hatched in Muzafarrabad camp of LeT in presence of top officers of Pakistan army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
"Some other sensational disclosures
have also been made by Sajjad which the sources declined to disclose in
view of their security related importance", the sources said.