After Poonch terror attack, a word of advice from the Army for locals

It came a day after the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Dilbagh Singh, announced that six local residents, who had allegedly provided food, shelter and transportation to those involved in the terror attack, had been apprehended. “Such an attack cannot be carried out without local support,” he had said.

The Army statement said that “after the abolition of Article 370, Pakistan does not want the establishment of peace and government formation (Assembly elections) in Jammu and Kashmir”. This was why it tried to mislead the youth of the region by giving them training in terrorist camps, subjecting them to propaganda, and sending them down wrong paths like drug addiction, the Army said, adding that Pakistan is also trying to woo the poor into terror activities through money.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir have understood the mentality of Pakistan and opposed terrorist attacks, the statement said.

The statement mentioned demonstrations, including candlelight marches, taken out by people of all communities to protest against the Poonch attack. “The Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir has always witnessed heroic and historic events and battles fought by them in 1948, 1962, 1971 and 1999, and whenever anyone has tried to spread unrest in this area, the people have fought shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Army irrespective of their caste, creed, gender and religion,” the statement said.

Police have identified three local residents apprehended for allegedly helping the terrorists as Nissar Ahmad, Farid Ahmad and Mushtaq, all residents of Gursai. Nissar and members of his family allegedly provided food and shelter to the terrorists, the DGP had said, adding that they also helped them acquire weapons and cash that were allegedly dropped off using a drone from Pakistan.

More people are likely to be apprehended in connection with the case, with police and security forces questioning nearly 200 so far.

Sources said that a concern for security forces is the lack of information being shared by local residents, which used to be freely shared with authorities in the past.

According to a police officer, 118 militants from Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district are based in Pakistan and PoK, out of which 10 are very active and are attempting to spread militancy in the region by recruiting young people. Two of these militants have been declared “individual terrorists” and two “proclaimed offenders”, the officer said.

From the adjoining Kishtwar district, there are 36 terrorists currently camping in Pakistan and PoK. Police recently announced that they have decided to approach Interpol for assistance in apprehending the terrorists.