Forces on high alert in south Kashmir to foil fidayeen attack

Srinagar, Apr 9 (UNI) Security forces have been put on a high alert in South Kashmir, particularly on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway following intelligence inputs that a Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) fidayeen group had recently entered the area.

Official sources said all field commanders of different security forces agencies and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir have been asked to remain extra cautious.

The directions were issued after a tip off was received recently that two groups of fidayeen belonging to Pakistan based Al-Badr and LeT were planning to carry out suicide attacks in the summer capital and south Kashmir.

However, a three member group of the Al-Badr was eliminated in 14-hour-long gun battle at Nishat, few km away, on the bank of famed Dal Lake on Saturday.

The other group had sneaked into south Kashmir, sources said.

Director General (DG) of state Police Gopal Sharma said specific informations were received from different sources recently that militants belonging to different outfits are attempting to regroup and launch coordinated fidayeen and other attacks on vital installations and other important places in the Kashmir valley.

He said police finally got a vital clue that militant of Pakistan based Al-Badr and Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) had met and decided to carry out a fidayeen attack in the summer capital, Srinagar before and after the Darbar move offices shifts from Jammu to Srinagar.

He said operation against other fidayeen group of LeT was still going on in south Kashmir.

Mr Sharma said two militants are enough to carry out fidayeen attack on any installation.

Sources said special teams have been formed to thwart any possible militant attack on security force camps and other vital installations.

They said the Road Opening Parties (ROP) deployed on the Srinagar- Jammu national highway have also been directed to intensify foot patrolling to foil the militant attacks on security force convoy.

However, so far, no success was achieved though a number of possible militant hideouts were raided during the past three days, sources added.

UNI