Repeat of Pulwama terror attack prevented by alert security forces

Fauji Bhai, an IED expert, had fabricated the Santro Car, fitted with 40-45 kgs of explosives in Pulwama

May 30, 2020

Mohd Ismail alias Fauji Bhai comes on the radar of security forces in Kashmir

A day after the joint teams of CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir police and Indian army prevented a repeat of ‘dastardly’ Pulwama terror attack in Rajpora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, a manhunt has been launched by the security forces to track down the footprints of a dreaded terrorist Mohd Ismail alias Fauji Bhai, responsible for fabricating the Santro car, fitted with 40-45 kgs of explosive material.

The Santro car, bearing registration number JK08B-1426 was tracked down by the security forces, manning the multiple security checkpoints late Wednesday night after a brief exchange of fire.

Taking advantage of the darkness, the suicide bomber, at the driver’s seat managed to escape. The vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive device was later detonated by the bomb disposal squad on Thursday morning, averting a major tragedy.

Highly placed sources revealed Mohd Ismail alias Fauji Bhai, nephew of pot-bellied Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, himself an IED expert may have played a key role in fabricating the Santro car.

Police claimed, after the recent killings of top commanders Junaid Sehrai, Riyaz Naikoo, handlers of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) had tasked these terror outfits to execute another sinister plot of targeting security convoys and vital installations in Kashmir valley.

Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar while briefing media persons had stated, “we had received inputs that JeM was planning a suicide mission in Kashmir valley to target a security convoy.”

He said, following these leads multiple security checkpoints were activated in the area to track down the suicide bomber. Kumar said, late Wednesday security personnel had spotted the suicide bomber and signaled him to stop near one of the security checkpoints. Even warning shots were fired but taking advantage of the darkness he fled the spot by abandoning the car in Ayegund area of Rajpora in Pulwama.

On Friday, Jammu, and Kashmir, working on the vital leads, also identified the owner of the Santro Car.

According to police, the owner has been identified as Hidayatullah Malik, a resident of the Shopian district. According to police, Malik had joined ranks of Hizbul Mujahideen in July 2019. Police have also detained his brother and other relatives to expose the sinister plot.

According to Vijay Kumar, suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Hafiz of Dalipora, Pulwama had recently joined ranks of Hizbul Mujahideen in the month of March this year. He said Adil worked for both JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen. He along with two other terrorists were involved in planning the strike.

According to police, Fauji Bhai’s name had earlier figured in the investigations of the Pulwama terror attack in 2019. He had infiltrated inside the Indian territory shortly before the Pulwama strike, which led to the building up of tensions between India and Pakistan.

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