Poonch terror attack: DGP said terror plot uncovered, 6 locals arrested ; Nissar & his family members provided logistic support for 2-3 months to terrorists: DGP.

GNS ONLINE RAJOURI 

SHYAM SOOD
RAJOURI APRIL 28:-‘In the wake of a cowardly attack by the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists on an Army truck on April 20 in which 5 soldiers attained martyrdom and one was injured, Security Forces, including Special Forces, have launched a massive search and destroy operation to trace & eliminate the perpetrators involved in the attack.
On Friday DGP Dilbagh Singh accompanied by Additional DGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh; DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range, Dr. Haseeb Mughal; SSP Rajouri, Amritpal Singh & other senior officers visited Budh Khanari remote area in Darhal tehsil of Rajouri district and personally supervised the ongoing operation.
Talking to reporters DGP informed that during the ongoing investigation around 200 suspects have been rounded up, including a few who have provided logistic support to the perpetrators in executing their nefarious plan.

He said that such a well-planned attack was not possible without the support of some locals.
“Terror plot has been uncovered and about 6 locals have been arrested, including one Nissar. During interrogation, it came to the fore that Nissar and his family members have supported the terrorists by arranging shelter, &food for them and in collecting weapons & cash dropped through drones (by Pakistan) in the forests” said DGP.
Nisar is an active OGW since 1990 when he was working with Pakistan origin LeT commander. In the past, he was detained 2-3 times for interrogation. As he was under our radar & he was rounded up this time too.
“When interrogated, he along with other family members was found involved” said DGP.
DGP admitted that the terrorists involved in the attack on Army truck are Pakistani and helped by local terrorists. Three to five terrorists were involved in this attack and Pakistan is providing them weapons, cash, explosions, drugs etc through drones.
“Before executing the terror attack, the terrorists first did a recee of the area and selected the suitable spot where they could hide safely for the attack,” said DGP.
While explaining the modus operandi, DGP Dilbag Singh said that during recee the terrorists chose the terrain area where the driver has to lower the speed of the vehicle due to downhill terrains & a sharp curve.
“The terrorist hiding in the area first came close to the Army vehicle and ambushed it. Then they fired on the vehicle, damaged it & inflicting injuries to the soldiers. Later terrorists set on fire the vehicle by triggering IED,” said DGP.
He said that terrorists used steel-coated armour-piercing bullets like used in the Dhangri (Rajouri) attack to cause maximum loss to Army truck.
In the Dhangri terror attack 7 people, including two minors, were killed and about 14 were injured on January 1 & 2. The Dhangri perpetrators are still at large.
“Six persons of the busted module, including those who have provided shelter & food and guidance to terrorists besides arranging material like weapons, ammunition, explosives, and grenades (air-dropped by Pakistan through drones) for the last 2-3 months, have been arrested,” DGP added.
As far as the search operation is concerned, DGP said that the terrorists always choose hiding places close to forests where they get local support, natural caves to use as hideouts, and easy escape routes into dense forests.
“Intense search operation is on to identify natural hideouts used by the terrorists before the attack and to trace and nab the attackers. Nine to twelve terrorists likely in 2-3 groups are active in this area,” DGP said.
At about 3 pm on April 20, a group of terrorists in a well-planned terror attack ambushed an Army truck near Bhata Dhurian village on Jammu-Poonch highway in Poonch district. The attack was so severe that soldiers traveling in the vehicle couldn’t retaliate and five among them attained martyrdom and one was critically injured.
The soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terror operations under the Romeo Force.