Rajouri, Poonch attacks both handiwork of Lashkar: Intel

The Intelligence agencies have learnt that the horrific attack that was carried out in Rajouri in which five soldiers of the Indian Army died was orchestrated by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

The Indian Army has launched a full-scale counter-terror operation in the Kandi Forest in Bhata Dhurian, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir to avenge the killing of the soldiers.

Photo Credit: Image courtesy: ANI

Informed sources tell OneIndia that the attack was carried out by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. The group led by Habibullah Malik alias Sajjid Jutt alias Sajjid Langda along with Reyaz Ahmed alias Qasim had planned the attack. The same group is said to be involved in the Poonch attack, the source cited above said.

This particular group is being controlled by the team that is based out of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Sajjid Jutt, a resident of Kashur in Pakistan's Punjab is operating out of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He is also the operational commander for the Lashkar-e-Tayiba in Jammu and Kashmir, the source added.

With two back-to-back attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in which five Army personnel have died, the Indian Army is revamping its strategy, another official said. There has been a lot of focus on Kashmir as a result of which the terrorists decided to ramp operations in the Jammu region. The Indian security mechanism is now revamping the strategy in the Jammu region, the source also said.

Top Indian security officials along with the commanders of the Indian Army are on their way to Srinagar to review the entire scenario. We will overcome this and ensure that the terrorists are wiped out in this region as well. The same strategy applied to Kashmir would be done in Jammu. There are setbacks no doubt, but the game by Pakistan will not last too long another official said.

It would also not be wrong to say that the attacks in Poonch and Rajouri coincide with the visit by Pakistan's foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The day the announcement of his visit was made, the Poonch attack took place. On the day he visited India for the SCO summit, the attack in Rajouri happened. This is hardly even a coincidence, a top security expert said.