Why army convoys in J&K are the easiest targets for terrorists

New Delhi, June 28: The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar said that security convoys are sitting ducks during surprise attacks. The top cop of the state is absolutely right when he says this and the state has seen several attacks on security convoys thus exposing it vulnerability.

This year alone has seen three major attacks on convoys which includes the recent one at Pampore in which 8 CRPF personnel were killed.

Convoys travelling in isolated areas or highways are targeted by terrorists. There is a surprise factor in such attacks and hence it makes the convoys even more vulnerable.

On the Pampore attack, a senior journalist from Jammu and Kashmir told OneIndia that it was strange that the convoy did not have an escort.

Why are convoys soft targets?

It is a well known fact that the fight of the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir is with the security forces. They feel that they can kill as many as possible if the attack is on a convoy. Moreover there is always this surprise element in such attacks which makes the operation even more dangerous.

The other aspect is that the buses that carry the soldiers are not bullet proof. A bullet proof vehicle could well act as the first line of defence in such attacks. Senior officials say that question of intelligence is one aspect.

Whether there is intelligence or not, the security for such vehicles needs to be high as army convoys and personnel are always the first targets for terrorist groups especially in Jammu and Kashmir.

Major attacks:

In February this year militants attacked a security convoy at Pampore and killed two CRPF personnel. On June 3, 2016, three BSF troopers were killed by militants when their convoy was attacked at the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Bijbehara. The third attack this year was at Pampore on Saturday in which 8 CRPF personnel were killed.

Last year in the month of August 2 BSF personnel were killed in Udhampur. On June 24 2013, 8 army personnel died after their convoy was attacked at Hyderpora. On July 19 2008, 10 army personnel had died after militants blasted an army vehicle at Narbal Crossing.

OneIndia News