Srinagar: Two days ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s Jammu visit Sunday, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel was killed, and five from the CISF and Jammu and Kashmir police injured Friday, in a gunfight with two alleged terrorists “planning a suicide attack”, sources in J&K police told ThePrint.
The two alleged terrorists — who were stationed just 20 km away from the place where the PM event is to take place, according to the sources — were also killed in the fight.
According to J&K Police, the gunfight happened in the Sunjwan area, during a search operation, and both alleged terrorists — one of whom was allegedly wearing a suicide vest — were killed.
Speaking to ThePrint, ADGP, Jammu, Mukesh Singh claimed that the police had intelligence inputs about a “possible attack” being planned, following which a cordon was laid and a search operation was carried out. The terrorist attack was averted, he added.
ThePrint had earlier reported that the intelligence agencies had intercepted a communication about a “high-grade IED (improvised explosive device) blast” ahead of the PM’s visit on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Diwas.
“We had strong inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area, following which we laid a cordon and started the search. While the inner cordon had the CRPF and J&K police personnel, the outer cordon had the CISF and other local police personnel. The vehicle used was that of CISF,” Singh said.
“During the search, the two terrorists were trapped and as they tried to escape, a gunfight started in which three CISF personnel were injured and two J&K personnel also sustained injuries. The terrorists, however, were not able to break the cordon and were killed,” he said.
The CISF has, however, claimed the exchange of fire took place when a bus carrying CISF personnel came under attack from the alleged terrorists.
Following the gunfight, security in the area has been further beefed up and a meeting with all intelligence agencies has been called, to discuss further strategy.
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CISF says ‘bus came under attack’
While J&K police said that a cordon was laid to find and kill the alleged terrorists following intelligence inputs, the CISF has claimed that their bus came under attack from the ‘terrorists’ while they were on their way “for their duties”.
CISF spokesperson, DIG Anil Pandey, told ThePrint that the CISF vehicle carrying 15 personnel going for morning shift duties, came “under attack” by the alleged terrorists at 4.25 am Friday near Chaddha Camp in Jammu, and the “CISF averted the terrorist attack by retaliating effectively and forced the terrorists to run away”.
“Terrorists resorted to firing and attack through grenades, but CISF personnel retaliated effectively and forced the terrorists to run away, everting major loss,” he said.
“In the line of action one ASI of CISF has lost his life and two others are injured,” he added.
Concern for Panchayat representatives
Even though security in the area has been beefed up, there is a growing concern for the security of the Panchayat representatives who will be attending the PM’s event.
According to sources, since the visit was announced in mid-March, incidents of terror — alleged targeting of civilians, members of the Panchayati Raj institutions (PRI) and security forces — have been on the rise. A similar trend was noticed during Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the valley in October last year, sources said.
In March alone, at least five panchayat members were killed in alleged terror attacks in the Valley, after Modi’s visit was announced, shows police data. Additionally, three civilians and five personnel of the security forces have also been killed in separate incidents.
“The entire area is being sanitised and further strategy is being discussed. More cordons are expected to be laid. These terrorists were in direct touch with their handlers and were being provided logistical support here. Places where they were staying are being traced,” a source said.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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