Intel agencies warn of militant attacks in Kashmir
Srinagar: Intelligence agencies have warned of possible militant attacks in Kashmir valley after reports of a meeting between various militant commanders have surfaced.
Sources said that the militant groups in Kashmir are planning a major attack in the Valley. Intelligence agencies have reported that militants may carry out an attack on May 23, the day when counting of votes for Lok Sabha election 2019 takes place.
According to sources, Indian Air Force bases in Srinagar and Awantipora are among the targets. The security forces have recovered a sketch from the body of one of the militants who was killed in Shopian on Thursday, which revealed that the militant groups were planning a fidayeen attack at Srinagar and Awantipora air bases.
A meeting was held between various commanders in Pulwama on May 14, which was attended by Hizbul Mujahideen’s Riyaz Naikoo, two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Riyaz Dar. All four of them have planned to launch an attack against the security and armed forces, sources say.
”The meeting was held to discuss and to plan a major action in the month of Ramzan, possibly around May 23, which marks the 17th Ramzan coinciding with the Battle of Badr. It’s the day when counting of votes would take place for the Lok Sabha poll,” said an official.
The group, according to reports wants to take revenge for the death of Rizwan Assad Pandith in police custody in Awantipora a few weeks ago. One of the possible targets of the attack may be on the National Highway in Awantipora or the District Police Office complex, Awantipora.
The report just comes a day after army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force killed five militants in Pulwama and Shopian.
KV Correspondent
