The April 21 attack at Bhatta Durian in Poonch in which five soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles lost their lives was carried out with local support, J&K DGP Dilnagh Singh said in Rajouri on Friday.
“Such attacks can’t be carried out without local support,’’ he said. “The militants were provided shelter at one place and then provided transport to attack another place.”
Singh said the militants had done recce and executed the attack despite rains. He added the vehicle was targeted when it was moving at a low speed due to a blind turn. “The attackers knew the spot and speed of the vehicle,” he said.
The DGP said the militants used steel core bullets and IEDs to inflict maximum damage. He added the search operation to identify the natural hideouts of the militants is being carried out and an initial investigation suggests that 9 to 12 foreign militants could be active in Rajouri-Poonch districts also called the Pir Panjal.
Singh spoke to reporters after taking stock of the operations in the Darhal area of Rajouri.
Singh said the steel-coated armour-piercing bullets and IEDs were used to blow in a bid to inflict maximum damage. “Same bullets were used in the Dhangri, Rajouri attack( seven civilians were killed in the attack on January 1),’’ he said.
Singh said the army vehicle was targeted near a forest area and investigations suggest that the militants may have used natural hideouts. “We are identifying the natural hideouts that may have been used by the attackers before the attack,’’ he said. He also said the militants involved in the attack may be divided into a group of two or three.
About the local support, the DGP said a local, Nisar Ahmed, a resident of Gursai village, was already on the suspect list of the police. “He has been an active OGW of militants since 1990,’’ he said. “He has been questioned several times in the past. This time, after corroborating the evidence, he was found involved in providing logistic and other support to terrorists who carried out the Poonch attack,” Singh said.
He said Ahmed’s family is also involved in providing support to militants. The DGP said that weapons, grenades and cash were air-dropped using drones and the same was collected by Ahmed and his family members.
“With the arrest of Ahmed, vital leads have been received,’’ he said. “We are identifying the spot where the drone had dropped the weapons and cash.”
He said 200 people have been questioned so far and 12 suspects have been detained.