ISI, LeT planning suicide attacks in India ahead of Obama visit: Sources
Ashwani Kumar Jammu, January 5, 2015 | UPDATED 11:54 IST
According to them, the ISI is taking help of Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) chief Hafiz Sayeed in planning the attacks. More than 60 LeT terrorists have been camping in Sialkot in Punjab province of Pakistan to cross over to India to carry out the attacks.
Sources said that there are at least 6 such launch pads, located opposite India's Paharpur, Kathua, Hiranagar, Ramgarh and Samba areas.
Sources said the Border Security Force (BSF) has specific intelligence inputs that Pakistan's Chenab Rangers have been giving cover fire to these terrorists to help them cross international border under the prevailing condition of heavy fog.
Intelligence sources said LeT terrorists are trying to cross the border without guides and they have been provided with global positioning system (GPS) devices to keep their movement secret. They have been provided with new devices, called "floaters", to help them cross rivers and nallahs in Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu region, sources said.
Obama is visiting India later this month to attend the Republic Day parade as the chief guest on January 26.
Four terrorists had attacked an army camp in Arnia sector on November 27, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the region for an election rally. Another group of six gunmen hit the army base in Uri and two others attempted to kill innocents in Soura near Srinagar.
These 12 men were suspected LeT suicide attackers, carrying out terror attacks to disrupt the five-phase Assembly polls which concluded recently.
A note on Arnia-type terror attack:
FILE- PTI PHOTO
Five Civilians Among 12 Dead in Army's Arnia Encounter
The encounter in Arnia sector of Jammu region close to Indo-Pak border ended this morning after the remaining fourth militant was gunned down by security forces during the terror attack on an Army patrol that in all left 12 people dead including five civilians and three army personnel.
"The encounter has ended and boys did a good job by preventing the militants from striking anywhere," Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K Rajendra told PTIhere.
"In all, we have lost three Army personnel and five civilians. All the four militants have been killed," he said, after the end of the encounter this morning which lasted over 24 hours following the fidayeen attack.
Yesterday, it was stated that four militants were killed and one more was still holed up in an army bunker which came under attack. Officials said today there was some confusion on establishing the identity of one the dead yesterday.
The operation to neutralise the militants began yesterday morning and went on throughout the day but was suspended during the night.
An Army official said that security forces, who had launched a cordon and search operation at the site of encounter in Arnia this morning to retrieve bodies of the civilians, came under fire from a militant holed up in a bunker triggering fresh exchanges in which he was killed.
Piecing together the events that led to the attack, sources in the security establishment said all the four terrorists had entered India from across the Indo-Pak border during the intervening night of November 26 and 27 and were hiding behind a culvert when they were spotted by Territorial Army personnel.
A fierce gunbattle then ensued and the terrorists who were in combat fatigues later entered two abandoned bunkers and remained holed up before three of them were neutralised.
Security officials suspected that the militants wanted to carry out a sensational strike in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir to coincide with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a poll rally in Udhampur today. The venue of the rally was about 100 km from Arnia.
On November 26, Pakistani rangers had fired on some posts in Arnia sector and by the time the troops could retaliate, the four militants are believed to have infiltrated into the state, official sources said. BSF, which guards the International Border(IB), maintains there was no sign of infiltration.
The five civilians who died also included two people who had tried to flee from the car, in which they were travelling, when it got caught in the cross-fire between militants and security personnel.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, Rajesh Kumar told reporters that search operations are on in the Arnia sector.
Kumar said that once the operations are called off, final details of casualties can be given.
During evacuation operation in the morning, bodies of four civilians were taken out.
However, BSF have ruled out any infiltration from International Border in Arnia belt.
On November 28, the stadium at military station, Mamun near Pathankot City of Punjab stood in testimony when the military fraternity gathered with a sense of honour to pay homage to the three of its gallant soldiers, who laid down their lives while fighting the terrorists.
The mortal remains of Naik Kulwinder Singh, resident of Jalandhar district of Punjab, Naik Jagsir Singh, resident of Mansa district of Punjab, both from 5th Battalion, the Sikh Light Infantry (OP HILL) and Paratrooper Balwinder Singh resident of Dhar Kalan district of Punjab, of 1 PARA (Special Forces), were laid in state and a solemn wreath laying ceremony was performed with full military honours.
A wreath was laid on behalf of Gen Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff.
Lt Gen K J Singh, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Command, laid a wreath on behalf of all ranks of Western Command.
Also, present at the ceremony were Lt Gen Rajeev Tewari, General Officer Commanding 9 Corps and other Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Jawans of all units of the Military Station.
"The encounter has ended and boys did a good job by preventing the militants from striking anywhere," Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K Rajendra told PTIhere.
"In all, we have lost three Army personnel and five civilians. All the four militants have been killed," he said, after the end of the encounter this morning which lasted over 24 hours following the fidayeen attack.
Yesterday, it was stated that four militants were killed and one more was still holed up in an army bunker which came under attack. Officials said today there was some confusion on establishing the identity of one the dead yesterday.
The operation to neutralise the militants began yesterday morning and went on throughout the day but was suspended during the night.
An Army official said that security forces, who had launched a cordon and search operation at the site of encounter in Arnia this morning to retrieve bodies of the civilians, came under fire from a militant holed up in a bunker triggering fresh exchanges in which he was killed.
Piecing together the events that led to the attack, sources in the security establishment said all the four terrorists had entered India from across the Indo-Pak border during the intervening night of November 26 and 27 and were hiding behind a culvert when they were spotted by Territorial Army personnel.
A fierce gunbattle then ensued and the terrorists who were in combat fatigues later entered two abandoned bunkers and remained holed up before three of them were neutralised.
Security officials suspected that the militants wanted to carry out a sensational strike in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir to coincide with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a poll rally in Udhampur today. The venue of the rally was about 100 km from Arnia.
On November 26, Pakistani rangers had fired on some posts in Arnia sector and by the time the troops could retaliate, the four militants are believed to have infiltrated into the state, official sources said. BSF, which guards the International Border(IB), maintains there was no sign of infiltration.
The five civilians who died also included two people who had tried to flee from the car, in which they were travelling, when it got caught in the cross-fire between militants and security personnel.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, Rajesh Kumar told reporters that search operations are on in the Arnia sector.
Kumar said that once the operations are called off, final details of casualties can be given.
During evacuation operation in the morning, bodies of four civilians were taken out.
However, BSF have ruled out any infiltration from International Border in Arnia belt.
On November 28, the stadium at military station, Mamun near Pathankot City of Punjab stood in testimony when the military fraternity gathered with a sense of honour to pay homage to the three of its gallant soldiers, who laid down their lives while fighting the terrorists.
The mortal remains of Naik Kulwinder Singh, resident of Jalandhar district of Punjab, Naik Jagsir Singh, resident of Mansa district of Punjab, both from 5th Battalion, the Sikh Light Infantry (OP HILL) and Paratrooper Balwinder Singh resident of Dhar Kalan district of Punjab, of 1 PARA (Special Forces), were laid in state and a solemn wreath laying ceremony was performed with full military honours.
A wreath was laid on behalf of Gen Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff.
Lt Gen K J Singh, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Command, laid a wreath on behalf of all ranks of Western Command.
Also, present at the ceremony were Lt Gen Rajeev Tewari, General Officer Commanding 9 Corps and other Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Jawans of all units of the Military Station.
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Five-Civilians-Among-12-Dead-in-Armys-Arnia-Encounter/869897