Pampore attack: LeT's fidayeen preparing for fresh strike on military targets, warn intelligence agencies

The intelligence agencies have warned that Lashkar-e-Toiba's new operational commander in the Kulgam district may be preparing for fresh 'fidayeen' attack in the coming days.

Jammu: Three days after the terrorist attack on security forces in Pampore, the intelligence agencies have warned that Majid Zargar, Lashkar-e-Toiba's (LeT) new operational commander in the Kulgam district, may be preparing for fresh 'fidayeen' attack in the coming days.

According to a report in 'The Indian Express', some Lashkar 'fidayeen' from the same group of infiltrators which attacked the security forces in Pampore have been dispatched to Majid Zargar for carrying out more attacks in the Kashmkir Valley at an opportune time.

The intelligence agencies have warned that the LeT unit, which carried out Saturday’s strike on the CRPF, is preparing for a fresh 'fidayeen' attack on military targets.

The Home Ministry has sounded an alert and asked the armed forces, the state police and intelligence services personnel to remain vigilant.

The ministry has also asked all agencies to ensure better coordination among themselves and fix serious gaps in their joint operations.

Intelligence agencies believe Saturday’s attack was organised by Ruhul Amin Dar, a one-time resident of the village of Vissu in south Kashmir’s Qazigund district, who has now emerged as a key organiser for LeT’s networks in the area.

The Lashkar commander, as per the intelligence sources, is now thought to be in charge of one of two units preparing for fresh strikes.

Following the attack, Dar is believed to have driven to a hideout near his home village, to join up with two of the four 'fidayeen' originally assigned to him. The four were from a group of elite fighters sent across the Line of Control in mid-June.

On Friday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that he “doubted if the Standard Operating Procedure was followed properly” — in what was widely read as a criticism of the CRPF.

However, security officials in both New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir have told the Home Ministry that responsibility for securing the CRPF unit’s movement along the highway lay with the Army.