JeM’s Maulana Masood Azhar -still a nightmare for security forces in India

He is gradually building a team of 'jehadis' to carry out terror strikes in India.

October 4, 2017

JeM — India's enemy no. 1 Maulana Masood Azhar

In recent months JeM militant outfit has managed to push a group of highly trained fidayeens to carry out terror strikes.

Ever since pot-bellied Maulana Masood Azhar, Chief of Pakistan based banned militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was set free in exchange for 150 hijacked passengers of Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu (IC-814) by the Indian government in December 1999 he is giving nightmares to the entire security establishment.

He has masterminded several audacious strikes on the Indian soil and continue to bleed India by pushing in highly trained members of his suicide squad.

In the wee hours of Tuesday when a three-member suicide squad (fidayeen group) stormed highly fortified BSF camp, barely metres away from Srinagar International Airport in the high-security zone, memories of similar audacious strikes came fresh into the minds of the top brass of the security establishment in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

After his ‘dramatic’ release from Kot Bhalwal central jail in Jammu, the state of Jammu and Kashmir saw series of strikes on vital security installations including army camps, state assembly complex.

The terror strike on BSF camp too had all the imprints which are typical of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) cadre in security parlance.

In all these attacks a fidayeen group used to storm the main gate by throwing grenades and opening indiscriminate firing on the sentry posts to gain access inside the camps. Majority of these strikes were carried out by the JeM cadre across Jammu and Kashmir.

Sixteen years after terror came revisiting Srinagar airport road ?

It was more than 16 years after a terror strike was launched in the highly protected area near Srinagar airport by a highly trained fidayeen group.

Earlier an attempt was made by the six-member fidayeen squad on January 16, 2001, to hit the Srinagar airport but the security forces had foiled the attempt.

The fidayeen entered the BSF camp after cutting the fence between Friends Colony and Gogoland.

The terror strike on BSF camp too had all the imprints which are typical of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) cadre in security parlance.

According to official sources, the fidayeen entered the BSF camp after cutting the fence between Friends Colony and Gogoland. During 8-hour long gun battle, all three fidayeens were neutralised while one BSF Assistant Sub-Inspector B K Yadav, 50, attained martyrdom and three jawans received injuries.

A large number of former bureaucrats, police officials and politicians live in Friends Colony, which is regarded as high-security area.

A month ago a similar strike was launched by the JeM Cadre in Pulwama Police lines killing at least 8 security personnel.

All these years Maulana remained low profile but was actively involved behind the scenes in motivating young jehadis.

Maulana Masood Azhar was named by India as a prime suspect in the 2001 attack on the Parliament and pressurised Pakistan to hand over his custody for the trial. But after the Mumbai terror attack, the focus shifted to secure custody of Hafiz Saeed and others.

All these years Maulana remained low profile but was actively involved behind the scenes in motivating young jihadis to wage war against the Indian security forces.

He, however, surfaced again when he started addressing large gatherings in different parts of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2014 and since then he is gradually building a team of ‘jihadis’ to carry out terror strikes in India.

It is believed Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency had roped him to keep the ‘terror pot’ boiling in Kashmir valley.

These foreign militants prefer staying away from local militants as they believed local police authorities easily track them down due to their overindulgence with mobile phones and social media.

On many occasions, he was spotted close to the line of control meeting trained militants across different launching pads.

His name surfaced once again when Pathankot air base was attacked by a highly motivated group of fidayeen on January 2, 2016.

Handlers of JeM prefer sending suicide squads (fidayeen groups) on special missions to target high-value targets in Kashmir valley too.

In recent months Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit has managed to push a group of highly trained fidayeens to carry out terror strikes.These cadres are camping close to the line of control in North Kashmir areas of Kupwara, Handwara, and Uri. These foreign militants prefer staying away from local militants as they believed local police authorities easily track them down due to their overindulgence with mobile phones and social media.

These attacks will keep happening: IG

Though the state police are still investigating the case and yet to make public the identity of the terrorists involved in the attack but local news agencies in Srinagar received a call from an unknown caller who claimed the terror strike was carried out by the members of suicide squad of Jaish-e-Mohammad.

JeM is a threat as they believe in surprise fidayeen attacks.

Addressing a press conference in Humhama, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range Muneer Khan said that six to seven Jaish militants are still at large.He said JeM is a threat as they believe in surprise fidayeen attacks.

“They had infiltrated in July-August from Shakkarpur in Jammu. Three of them were killed in Pulwama when they attack Police Lines last month. They are now left with 6-7 members and we are looking for them and we will eliminate them”, he said.

The IGP said that the JeM is a threat as they are known for doing such type of attacks. “We will deal with them differently”, he added.

Khan said that the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) network of Jaish has been identified and they know who provided the logistics for reaching the airport and DPL Pulwama. “We have started acting against them”, he added.

The IGP said that such type of attacks are nothing new and they will keep happening as long as Pakistan is our neighbour and militancy is there. He also countered media reports claiming the fidayeen wanted to target Srinagar airport “There was no attack on the airport, contrary to some media reports. This was not a setback. Attack was repulsed very effectively, he added.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.