Srinagar: 

In response to these attempts, security forces have intensified their vigil across the Valley with politicians and protected persons advised to exercise caution.

In the last five days, four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have been recovered and defused in Kashmir, prompting heightened security vigil across the region.

A senior politician speaking to condition of anonymity said a few days ago he received a series of instructions from the security team including avoiding crowded places and moving out late evening.

The latest detection by the army’s patrolling party at Bandipora’s Sunrise Point saw an IED fitted in a pressure cooker alongside the road. The strategic Srinagar-Bandipora road used by security convoys leads to a vast network of villages including the remote Gurez Valley along the Line of Control.

But a joint team of Police and army defused it, averting a potential tragedy, said an official. Likewise, another IED was found in a pressure cooker in Kulgam district’s Qaimoh village while another one was defused in Kupwara and Pulwama district this week.

“These IED attempts by terrorists are aimed at creating panic and showing their presence even though local cadre has significantly depleted," he added. Another official suggested that Pakistan may be attempting these moves to deflect attention from its domestic strife.

“But their designs have been foiled preventing major tragedies,” he added. The number of militants in Jammu and Kashmir, according to official data, is at an all-time low 76. Of them, only 17 are locals while the rest are foreign terrorists mainly affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (35) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (21).

Sindhi was allegedly involved in several deadly attacks including a Reasi attack on Hindu pilgrims last year. After operating in the Jammu region in the early 2000s during which he was believed to have developed an Overground network, he exfiltrated to Pakistan in 2005.

Now, security agencies have seen his stamp on terror activities in Jammu from across the border in the last few years. A senior security official said they have increased the vigil along the sensitive locations and the advisory to protected persons including politicians was part of this move to prevent any incident.

Interestingly, the attacks in Jammu in the last few years are attributed to foreign terrorists with Union Home Minister Amit Shah directing security forces to intensify fight against terrorism.

On Thursday, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat interated the 'zero-tolerance policy' against terrorism in a security huddle in Kashmir, urging officers to remain on high alert.

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