Jammu and Kashmir Police has sounded an alert across Kashmir after receiving reliable inputs suggesting that the Jaish-e-Muhammad may carry out attacks on forces in the Valley by or before the hanging anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru.
Guru, a resident of Doibgah, Sopore in Baramulla district was sent to gallows secretly in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013. He was also buried within the premises of Tihar Jail.
According to an official communication flashed to all the district senior superintendents of police (SSPs), there are reliable inputs that Jaish is planning to carry out fidayeen attacks at forces establishments from February 5 to February 11.
“The death anniversary of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat fall on February 9 and February 11 respectively. The militants may also carry out grenade attacks on forces convoys and may also resort to IED blasts,” reads the official communication, a copy of which is with Greater Kashmir.
The document further states that a high level vigil needs to be maintained for the period—from February 5 to February 11 against any such attack.
“All district SSPs will brief their officers/men on ground and other sister agencies regarding the threat perception” during this period. “We need to take all the preventive measures to thwart the nefarious designs of the militants,” the document reads. “Extra vigil needs to be maintained from 11 p.m to 6 a.m (during this period).”
A senior police official, privy to the input, said that there is every possibility that the Afzal Guru Squad (AGS) of Jaish may strike anywhere in Kashmir by or before Guru anniversary. “We have communicated to all the security agencies including CRPF and army to stay alert,” he said.
He said forces were earlier expecting Jaish strike on the eve of January 26, “but it seemed that they have delayed it.”
Jaish militants have carried out deadly fidayeen strikes on the forces’ establishment in Kashmir in the recent past—at district police lines Pulwama and also at Lethpora, Pulwama, wherein two local fidayeen participated after a long gap setting alarm bells ringing for the forces.
What has further resulted in the cause of worry is the fleeing of top Lashkar commander Naveed Jatt alias Abu Hanzallah of Paksitan, from SMHS hospital. A source in the police said that Naveed has masterminded many attacks on forces from 2012 to 2014 and he may rejuvenate the cadre and plan a joint attack on forces along with Jaish.
A police source said that a tight vigil is already being maintained on every entry point of Srinagar and almost all the districts to ensure no militant travels safely. “We are maintaining a tight vigil and a close watch on every suspected vehicle. If needed, we stop vehicles and ask the travellers to prove their identity,” he said.