Terror attack plan foiled in Punjab before Independence Day

Amritsar/Srinagar – A major plot to carry out a terrorist attack was foiled in Punjab before Independence Day. Large stockpiles of arms and explosives were seized from a village on the international border in Amritsar, Punjab. These include RDX-loaded Tiffin IEDs, grenades, pistols and cartridges. A drone may have dropped the weapons and explosives from Pakistan, police said. Punjab Director General of Police, Dinkar Gupta, said that they are coordinating with the Central Investigation and Security Agencies.

The explosives and weapons were found in the border village of Dalek in Amritsar. The village sarpanch first informed the police that a suspicious bag had been spotted. On the night of August 7th and 8th, the villagers heard the sound of drones. Therefore, on locating the suspicious bag, the police were immediately informed. Punjab Police then informed the National Security Guard (NSG).

An NSG team defused a Tiffin IED that was seized late Monday night. This remote IED was fitted in a double plastic tiffin. Five grenades were also found at the spot. Besides, 100 cartridges of 9 mm pistol and some other materials were also seized. The Punjab Director General of Police said that two to three kg of RDX was used in the Tiffin IED.

Police said a drone might have dropped the explosives and weapons from Pakistan. An investigation is underway into who were the recipients. The Director-General of Police of Punjab also informed that he is in constant touch with the central authorities regarding this.

Movements across the border have increased in the last three months. Therefore, the cooperation of the citizens of the border areas becomes vital. The IED was also placed in a plastic box of children with stickers, making it clear that it aimed to target innocent civilians, said Gupta, the Director-General of Police. The explosives were found against the background of Independence Day. Therefore, terrorist organizations may be planning to carry out a major attack on or before August 15. A high alert has been issued in Punjab.

Huge haul of arms and explosives seized in Kashmir

Large stockpiles of arms and explosives have also been seized in the forest area of Sangad village near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The security forces destroyed the hideout of the terrorists. These include two AK-47 rifles, four AK magazines, 257 cartridges of AK-47, a Chinese pistol, ten pistol magazines, one wireless set, four Chinese hand grenades, 68 cartridges of 9 mm gun, two mobile phones, nine batteries, wires and others. In another incident, two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were arrested.

On Monday, a political leader and his wife were also shot dead by terrorists at Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir. Ghulam Rasool Dar had been elected in the Panchayat elections, held a few months ago. Terrorists are constantly targeting people’s representatives and local leaders. Analysts say that the terrorists, whose security forces have weakened actions, choose soft targets, target the people’s representatives, and restart terrorism in Kashmir.