Plot for a major terror attack before Panchayat elections in Jammu Kashmir

Srinagar: The security forces killed four Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists in Nagrota who were preparing for a massive terror attack before the panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The security forces blew away the truck in which the terrorists were travelling. There was a massive haul of arms and ammunition with the terrorists. 11 AK-47 rifles, 29 hand grenades and three pistols, along with other weapons, was found at the site of the incident. Therefore, it is evident that a major terror attack has been averted.

This encounter, with the terrorists, was sparked during an inspection at the toll plaza on the National Highway 44 at Nagrota. The security forces received an alert that terrorists are planning to disrupt the Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, and they were moving towards Jammu with a big haul of arms and ammunition. After that, an inspection of each vehicle was started on the highway. Check-post had been set up even near the toll plaza at Nagrota.

A truck was intercepted for inspection at around 5 am. But the terrorists hiding behind the bags stacked in truck suddenly opened fire. The police and CRPF personnel retaliated strongly. The terrorists even hurled grenades along with firing. But the soldiers did not give the terrorists a chance to escape till reinforcements arrived. Despite having advanced weapons, the terrorists were left attenuated in front of the retaliation by the soldiers.

The encounter lasted for three hours. The Jammu and Kashmir highway was closed during this period. Finally, the security forces blew up the truck. All the four terrorists were killed in the blast. The Jammu and Kashmir police informed that these terrorists were from Jaish-e-Mohammed. The police reported that the driver of the truck is absconding. A similar encounter had taken place near the Nagrota toll plaza in February. Three terrorists had been killed at that time, and a huge arms haul had been seized. In 2016, it was the Nagrota military base which came under a terrorist attack after Uri. Seven soldiers had been martyred in the attack.

Meanwhile, this is a big arms haul seized in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times. The terrorist organisations are making desperate efforts to perpetrate violence again in Jammu and Kashmir. But their efforts are being busted due to the alertness and decisive actions of the security forces. This has left Pakistan and the terrorist organisation very restless. It is claimed that the desperate attempts to disrupt the Panchayat elections being held after the abrogation of Article 370 are being made out of frustration building due to repeated failures.