ARVIND SHARMA / IRFAN YATTOO
JAMMU, Apr 29: A week after five soldiers were killed and another critically injured after terrorists ambushed an army truck in Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district, Army has taken a serious note of the incident and has decided to take several steps for movement of its vehicles on both National Highways and internal areas or roads to thwart any such incidents in future, top Army officials on Saturday said.
Lt Col Devendra Anand, PRO Defence told Rising Kashmir that some steps are needed to be taken to avoid such terror attacks in future.
“By analysing the circumstances and the situation in which the terrorists attacked the Army vehicle, some corrective measures are required to be taken to make sure that such attacks do not take place in future,” he said, but did not divulge the steps which the Army is going to take.
However, highly placed sources informed that the Road Opening Parties (ROP) will clear the road where the Army vehicles are supposed to move in any part of J&K, especially the terror prone areas.
“No Army vehicle will be allowed to move in J&K, especially the militancy prone areas, without the clearance and green signal from the Road Opening Party (ROP). It will be ensured that no Army vehicle moves in J&K without the clearance of ROP,”they said.
Sources reveal that it has also been strictly decided that there will be check posts of Core Military Police (CMP) within the distance of every 2-3 kms at all places in J&K.
Meanwhile, over 225 people have been questioned and seven persons have been arrested so far in connection with the Poonch terrorist attack in which 5 Army soldiers lost their lives on April 20.
A senior police officer told Rising Kashmir that so far 225 people have been questioned so far and 7 locals were arrested in connection with the Poonch terror attack. The investigation is underway in the case and more arrests are expected in the case, the Army official said.
“They (terrorists) were getting instructions from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from across the border and arms, ammunition was dropped by drones near the spot,” he said adding that they have got inputs about the location where they had stayed.
On Saturday, Senior army officers reached the spot where an Army truck was attacked by terrorists. They were briefed about the deadly attack by the concerned officers.
Meanwhile, a senior Army Officer said that a search operation to trace terrorists is still underway in the area. Both aerial and land routes are being dominated through drones and human resources to ensure the fool-proof surveillance in the area, he said.
About the use of Helicopters, the officer said so far they are only using high end drones to monitor areas and search operation in dense forest are underway.
“We have also ordered an internal probe in which all lapses will be checked. How vehicle got a green signal to move in the area and was road cleared by the concerned ROP’s. All things will come in the inquiry,” he said.
On Friday, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Dilbagh Singh said that three to five terrorists were involved in the attack.
“The terrorists had used steel-coated bullets that can pierce bulletproof (BP) armoured vests and IED were used by terrorists, who enjoyed local support.”
Talking to reports in Rajouri, DGP Singh said the weapons for the attack were dropped by a drone and some locals have been detained for their involvement in providing shelter and food to terrorists and helping in their transportation.
He said the terrorists had conducted a recce of the area (Bhimber Gali-Surankote-Poonch Road), where the attack took place on April 20.
“They selected the spot after the recce and it seems they had a network that informed them about the speed of the vehicle in view of downhill terrain and blind curves,” he said.
DGP Singh said that one of the accused has been identified as Nisar Ahmad who admitted to police that he and his family were involved in the attack.
“ Nisar and his family were helping the terrorists with food, water and other facilities for the last 2-3 months. The consignment containing arms, ammunition and grenades, sent by Pakistan for the terrorists was also collected and delivered by the local family,” he said.
To thwart Poonch like terrorist attacks, people have to play key role: Army officials
Army on Saturday said that to thwart Poonch like terrorist attacks, people have to play a vital role in helping the Army and security agencies.
In a statement, an Army official said that in the recent attack on an army truck on April 20 in Poonch, a few names of some communities came to the fore, which is unbelievable.
“Hence, the people of this area should keep away from such incidents and activities in future, if someone is roaming suspected in the region, then the people of that area should immediately inform and assist the army to foil a major incident like Poonch,” he said.
The official said it is the responsibility of all to be alert and cautious in future so that we can save the life of our army soldiers and citizens of this region and bring peace and tranquillity.
He said Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir has always witnessed heroic and historical events and battles fought by them in 1948, 1962, 1971 and 1999.
“Whenever, anyone has tried to spread unrest in this area, the people have fought shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Army irrespective of their caste, creed, gender and religion,” he said.
The Army official said Pakistan never wants there should be an atmosphere of peace or harmony in J&K and they try to spread unrest, disharmony, communal disturbances by supplying drugs and intoxicants to the youths of this region.
“This sort of thinking hinders the progress and development of the young generation who are the bright future of the state and country. Pakistan never wants the young generation to move ahead after being educated and make their life happy and bring prosperity in their life. Therefore, Pakistan does not want an established government in UT,” he said.
The Army official said after the abolition of Article 370, Pakistan does not want to establish peace and government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Now People have understood the mentality of Pakistan and opposed the terrorist attacks in J&K. Recently, PAFF attacked an army truck in Poonch in which five army soldiers laid down their lives. All communities of Poonch region like Gujjar Bakkarwal, Muslim, Hindu showed their anger over this incident and also protested by lighting a candle march,” he said.
The Army official said the central Govt and the army have been working together for the development of the area and people of this region so that they could be part of the mainstream of the country. Keeping this in mind, people of all the communities should walk shoulder to shoulder with the army, he said.
