Pir Panjal Problem: How Terrain Aids Infiltration Amid Terror Hunt After Pahalgam Assault | India Information
Safety personnel are encountering growing difficulties in tracing terrorists who’re suspected to be hiding within the higher areas of the Pir Panjal Vary after the most recent terror strike on vacationers in Pahalgam. The densely forested, hilly area—lengthy thought of a path for Pakistani infiltration—has once more develop into the main focus of consideration as militants reap the benefits of its low visibility and pure concealment.
Suspects Believed To Be In Higher Reaches Of Pir Panjal
One of many prime suspects within the Pahalgam assault has been named as Hashim Musa, alias Suleiman, who’s a Pakistani nationwide related to previous assaults in Kashmir. Officers mentioned Musa is suspected to be taking refuge within the Pir Panjal mountains together with 4 different accomplices—Ali Bhai alias Talha (Pakistan), Asif Fauji (Pakistan), Adil Hussain Thoker (Anantnag), and Ahsan (Pulwama). They’re below shut scrutiny for his or her alleged position in Tuesday’s assault on vacationers at Baisaran meadow.
Safety Businesses Use Know-how, Intelligence to Beat Terrain Challenges
Sources indicated that visibility in some forests is such that even figuring out motion inside 100 meters turns into a problem. As a result of mountainous and forested terrain, safety companies are relying on subtle surveillance know-how and human intelligence to trace down the suspects.
“Monitoring suspects in such terrain calls for strong coordination between technical surveillance and discipline intelligence,” mentioned the senior safety official.
OGWs Beneath Surveillance, On-line Actions Tracked
As a part of the broader crackdown, greater than 2,000 folks—principally former terrorists and overground employees (OGWs)—have been arrested for questioning. Some have already been let go following preliminary interrogation, however the operation continues to be below manner. Officers suspected these OGWs might have helped facilitate the motion of Pakistani militants by means of Kashmir.
Investigators are additionally probing encrypted messaging apps for on-line connections between native operatives and Pakistan-based organisations resembling Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy, The Resistance Entrance (TRF).
Reward Introduced, Sketches Launched
In a contemporary enchantment for public assist, police have issued sketches of the 5 suspects primarily based on survivor descriptions and supplied a reward of Rs 20 lakh for data resulting in their arrest.
Background: Musa’s Hyperlink to Previous Assaults
Hashim Musa is believed to have masterminded a number of assaults towards safety personnel and non-locals within the final 12 months. Intelligence companies suspected that he may now be working with a number of Pakistan-sponsored terror teams apart from LeT.
