Intel lacking, forces in J&K told to bolster connect with locals

During the meeting, which lasted around five hours, senior officials of intelligence agencies asked the local police and paramilitary forces to strengthen relations with two local tribal communities in particular since they spend a large part of their time inside forests and can be privy to militant movement. If needed, money can be spent to generate information, it was discussed.

“There are many CCTV cameras installed in the forest areas to track the movement of terrorists, but there is no breakthrough… It was advised to closely track the movement of all suspicious persons,” said a source.

According to sources, 60 foreign terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based groups — Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) — are believed to be actively operating in the region.

“We have information that Pakistan is constantly pushing terror and supplying sophisticated arms to these terrorists. Among the foreign militants, JeM has 21 operatives, followed by LeT at 35 and HM at three. As of now, local terrorist strength is much lower, at just three in Jammu and 14 in Kashmir. As many as 77 terrorists are active in J&K, which is almost 20 per cent less in comparison to last year,” said a source.

High-intensity attacks on security forces, particularly in Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu, have been a concern for security forces for months. Senior officials The Indian Express spoke to have repeatedly attributed it to a lack of adequate actionable intelligence on the infiltration of terrorists and their sustenance and the thinning of security forces from the hinterland.

In the past too, security forces have discussed how an increased dependence on technology could mean a reduced ground connect, which has been known to deliver the best operational intelligence.

Before the start of the March 9 meeting, the Home Secretary discussed the case of three civilians who were found dead in a river flowing through the Malhar area of Jammu’s Kathua district. Initial findings by local police suggest there was no terror angle since the bodies did not have bullet injuries. It is believed that the three died due to a fall into a gorge, but things will become clear after the viscera report is out.