Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said that in the recent two back to back explosions in Udhampur district sticky bombs fitted with timers were used and that person involved in the act is a local who was an active terrorist in 2005, arrested and then released.
The DGP said that former terrorists are being recycled into terrorism by their mentors across to carry out sticky bomb attacks and this time high profile ministerial visit was a possible target to show that “all wasn’t well in J-K”.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, DGP said, as per a local news agency that former terrorist Aslam Sheikh was involved in the Udhampur twin blasts that left two persons injured.
”There were at last four to five such IEDs/bombs available with them and possible target was the upcoming high profile visit. Sheikh has confessed to the crime,” he said, adding that consignments of sticky bombs are available with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and there is a possibility that Jaish-e-Muhammad may be also used a few.
“In Udhampur explosions, timers were fixed for seven and 14 hours. Aslam Sheikh was in touch with his Pakistani handler Muhammad Amin Bhat alias Khubaib. Sheikh received three sticky bombs and four new IEDs,” said DGP, who was accompanied by ADGP Jammu Mukhesh Singh.
The DGP said that police are keeping a close watch on all the former/released terrorists and OGWs keeping in view the involvement of some in the terrorist activities in the recent past. “In Kashmir, hybrid terrorism is being promoted and that is being countered well by the police,” he said.
“There is an indication that former/released terrorists are being recycled again into terrorism to carry out sticky bomb attacks.”
After the interrogation of Sheikh, the DGP said, it was found that it is easy to assemble the sticky bomb which is magnet based and has a timer fixed in it. “Sticky bombs is a serious challenge and we will counter it too,” the DGP said.
He said that at present security scenario is much better compared to past four years.
“So elements not happy with the peace always try to hatch conspiracies to convey that situation wasn’t well in Kashmir,” the DGP said.
