KARGIL REPEAT FEARED ALONG J& K BORDER

This was an article in Mail Today news paper on 16june2008
Intelligence reports and police talk of heavy infiltration in Doda &Kishtwar and intruders building bunkers on hill- tops
By Syed Junaid Hashmi in Jammu
RAISING the spectre of another Kargil- like attack, heavily- armed terrorists from Pakistan have infiltrated into Indian territory and occupied positions in the hilly areas of the Doda region of Jammu.
Radio intercepts and information provided by locals form the basis of credible intelligence to suggest that terrorists belonging to the Lashkar- e- Tayyeba (LeT) and Jaish- e- Mohammad (JeM) have established apresence in the higher reaches of the Doda region, which includes two newly carved districts of Kishtwar and Ramban. Reliable sources have confirmed to MAIL TODAY about the possibility of a‘Mini Kargil’ being planned by these terrorist organisations. The infiltrations, initially small, have gradually increased over the last six months. “The presence of foreign mercenaries in the higher reaches of the hilly and mountainous district of Doda is worrisome. Wehave already intensified the combing operations. Their plans for creating a ‘mini Kargil’ in Doda will never succeed,” said K. Rajindra, inspector general of police (IGP) for Jammu. He said the terrorists and foreign mercenaries — who had the support of Pakistani security forces across the border and local recruits on the Indian side — were planning a “major terrorist operation” in the rugged terrains. The security forces were awaiting specific and location-wise inputs on the presence of the infiltrators, who are said to be mostly Pakistanis and Afghans. Heavy presence of the LeT and JeM cadres have been noticed in Marmat, Bonjwah and Chiralla areas of Doda district and in Marwah, Dacchan and Chattroo areas of Kishtwar. They are said to be regrouping in Neel, Chamalwas, Khari and Pogal Paristan areas of Ramban district, the sources said. The terrorists are now believed to be focusing on creating a supply line via Margantop that would enable them to keep the security forces engaged for at least 15-17 days.

Infiltrators are 250 km into India by now
Aim: To bleed the security forces
Their apparent purpose, according to intelligence sources, is to occupy the mountainous area for a short period with the intent of “bleeding the security forces” in an operation lasting about a fortnight. The sources said they had no inputs to suggest that the terrorists were planning to occupy the mountainous terrains of the Doda region. They could also be planning to hold the Indian security forces in an area for a long time and cause them heavy casualties, which would serve to rejuvenate their local cadres. The terrorists are believed to have penetrated 250 km to 300 km into Indian territory from the border and the Line of Control (LoC). Sources in the security agencies said they had “inputs” that the infiltrators were making underground bunkers for storing arms and ammunition that comprised a collection of grenade launchers, AK-47 rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, grenades, universal machineguns and heavy weaponry, said the sources. Modern communication gadgets had been provided to the terrorists for remaining in contact with each other without getting noticed. Efforts are currently in progress among the security forces to identify how the terrorist cadres established a large presence without being noticed. Sources in the state police said the heavily-armed and trained guerrilla fighters of the LeT and JeM had entered Doda via Anantnag. This route is said to be “safe” for the militants as it is a dense forest area with scattered population. It is in these areas that they had been spotted by shepherds. The police claimed the shepherds had seen them moving about the region, but they had not come to the villages. IGP (Kashmir) S.M. Sahai said the number of militants had dwindled in the Kashmir Valley. “Their number has reduced considerably on our side. They might be shifting to the higher reaches of Doda district through Daksum in Anantnag. Probably, these areas are safer for making hideouts and carrying out high-intensity attacks on the security forces from the higher reaches.” Then, at Samba for instance, one group of infiltrators cut the concertina wires lining the border zone and crossed over. This group appeared to have crossed over the LoC from Uri and Anantnag. However, there is no denying that the security agenclick image to enlarge
The security forces have been lax
agencies have been lax. However, the Army denied the dangerous activity involving the JeM and LeT cadres. “In that area, the situation is very much under control. We have almost wiped out militancy in the Doda-Kishtwar area and poll canvassing is happening in full swing there,” Lt Col S.D. Goswami, the Jammu-based Army spokesperson said. “This specific inquiry is surprising in the first place.”
‘The presence of foreign mercenaries in the higher reaches of Doda district is worrisome. We have intensified combing operations. Their plan of creating a ‘minor Kargil’ in Doda will never succeed’ — K. RAJINDRA, IG (Jammu)