Jammu, 30 Oct: Three terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces in the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region were members of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group and had recently infiltrated into the area from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), officials said on Wednesday.
They said the terrorists were planning a major strike, utilising the Akhnoor route traditionally used by operatives of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group.
According to intelligence reports, the terrorists entered the Akhnoor region through the Battal area, and a wireless set seized from them confirmed their association with the JeM.
Unlike the typical strategies of infiltrating terrorists, who often adopt “conservation and consolidation” tactics, these ultras were reportedly aiming for a substantial attack, the officials said.
Notwithstanding the assertions made by Major General Sameer Srivastava, General Officer Commanding of the Army’s 10 Infantry division, that the area had not seen infiltration for an extended period, the officials noted that there were prior reports of terrorist movements in December and April of the previous year.
Maj. Gen. Srivastava had indicated that terrorists in the region were operating in small groups and had moved to Akhnoor for a planned offensive.
The encounter broke out on Monday morning when three local teenage boys visiting the Shiv Mandir Assan in Battal encountered the armed terrorists dressed in combat gear. (PTI)