E-Paper
Gurdaspur attack is a typical fidayeen attack, say intelligence sleuths
The terrorist attack in Dinanagar is being seen as a “typical fidayeen strike” resulting from augmented infiltration activities on the Indo-Pak border in the past few months.
The terrorist attack in Dinanagar is being seen as a “typical fidayeen strike” resulting from augmented infiltration activities on the Indo-Pak border in the past few months.
The intelligence wing of Punjab Police says the attack bears a striking resemblance to past terror strikes on police stations and army camps on the Jammu-Pathankot highway
“Since fidayeen is also known for carrying out multiple attacks within short periods, the state will be on high alert in the coming days. The security at police establishments on the national highway has been beefed up accordingly,” said a top intelligence cop.
Following specific intelligence inputs, security forces had increased vigil along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir since last week. However, no one expected an attack near the Punjab border.
Police and Border Security Force (BSF) were both caught unawares when the news of the attack first came in the wee hours this morning.
The intelligence inputs had stated that two batches of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-eMohammad militants would try to cross the LoC this week. While one batch was expected to move forward from Kel sector to Doga area, another input had suggested that militants would try and sneak in through Thandapani or Kainthwali.
However, Punjab intelligence officials have reasons to believe that those responsible for today’s attack were infiltrators who probably came in through Haria Chak in Kathua in Jammu.
This route, said the official, was one of the ‘preferred routes’ for terrorists to hit targets in Kathua and Samba because of the absence of fencing at many points.
Dinanagar is around 30 kilometers from Kathua through the Taragarh route Initial intelligence reports suggested that the terrorists came in from Taragarh.
Punjab Police denied allegations that the attack was a result of intelligence failure.
