The top leadership of Lashker-e-Taiba is believed to be behind the attack that claimed the lives of three Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel commanding a battalion and a Major, and a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Garol area of Anantnag district on Wednesday, top intelligence sources told News18.
Sources said “foreign” terrorists, a reference to militants from across the border, are suspected to be involved with alleged support of locals.
“They are in touch with top trainers like Sajid Jat and Qasim. This is a deadly group that specialises in ambush,” a source told News18.
Colonel Manpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonack and Deputy Superintendent Humayun Bhat were critically injured in the gunfight with terrorists in the higher reaches of Kokorenag area. The officers succumbed to their injuries during treatment, officials said, adding that a jawan also died.
The banned Resistance Front, believed to be a shadow group of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials believe that it is the same set of terrorists who had carried out the attack on army personnel on August 4 killing three jawans in the higher reaches of the Halan forest area of Kulgam district.
The operation against the terrorists began on Tuesday evening in Garol area but was called off during the night. On Wednesday morning, the hunt for the terrorists resumed after information started trickling that they were spotted at a hideout, officials said.
Colonel Singh, leading his team from the front, attacked the terrorists. However, he was critically injured in the bullets fired by the terrorists. Singh, who belonged to 12th Sikh LI, was a recipient of Sena medal. Dhonack belonged to 15th Sikh LI. Dhonack and Bhat were also hit by bullets resulting in critical injuries.
“The information was absolutely correct about the hideout, but before the attack from Indian side, they attacked with full force. This hideout was a warlike store and many medicines from Pakistan and other sophisticated weapons were also recovered,” sources said.
Officials added that since infiltrators from across the border haven’t been able to enter Indian territory due to sharp vigil, “foreign terrorists” on Indian soil are being directed to carry out these kinds of attacks by their handlers in Pakistan.
The attack came a day after an Army personnel and Kent, a six-year-old female Labrador of the Army’s dog unit, were killed and three security personnel injured in the gunfight in South of Pir Panjal at Rajouri in Jammu region. Two terrorists were killed in an encounter in the remote Narla village.
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