Mobile bomb latest technique of terror in JK

Jammu, Aug 26: Militant outfits in Jammu and Kashmir have adopted new techniques of causing harm in the state in the form of mobile bombs, the Army said.

The first ever mobile bomb, in the form of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) packed with five kg of deadly explosives, was detected yesterday near the Government Circuit House in the bordering district of Rajouri and was attached to a grenade and detonator to increase its intensity of destruction.

''We are changing our strategy to fight militancy because it is for the first time during the 19-year long militancy phase in Jammu and Kashmir that an IED was connected to a mobile,'' an Army officer said adding, the IED could be exploded by ringing up a mobile number.

Security forces have closely been monitoring the activities of such militant outfit groups using a mobile phone to trigger devices, an Army officer posted at the Line of Control (LoC) at Rajouri said.

''Although the Army is capable of defusing such devices, they still have to keep extra vigil over militant outfit activities,'' the officer said, adding that the mobile bomb recovered yesterday had been planted to target VIPs staying in the Dak Bunglow.

According to a security expert of the Border Security Force (BSF), strong intelligence network and strengthening of information-gathering capabilities of forces are the only ways to tackle such threats in Jammu and Kashmir.

''It clearly shows that terrorists are now using latest dimensions and in this case, blasts can be triggered by making a call only.

Of course, it is a new threat in this state, the officer added.

Although convoys of VIPs are enabled with jammers to provide protection from unanticipated attacks, civilians are not so lucky.

Mobile bombs need a call to trigger an attack by being set on alarm mode. It involves very little risk and does not cost much to assemble,'' an expert said.

UNI