Concerned over a fresh initiative launched by two of the biggest terror outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley — Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba — to rope in surrendered militants back into their fold, the intelligence agencies have cautioned the Jammu and Kashmir police to keep a close watch on the activities of these militant groups.
In a recent advisory sent to the state police and other security agencies active in the Valley it has been disclosed that both Hizbul and the Lashkar are feeling extremely frustrated in wake of the acute manpower crunch they are facing. To make matters worse, following intensified patrolling along the international border and the Line of Control as many as 800 militants are stuck at the launching pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) waiting to cross over.
Thus, these terror groups have now turned their attention to the former cadre which had surrendered before the security agencies. Sources said the terrorist organisations are trying both threat and the lure of money to bring back the surrendered terrorists into active militancy once again.
The Kashmir Valley has witnessed one of the most peaceful summer this season with casualties among both civilians and security personnel at a record low.
“They are threatening these surrendered militants and their family members to pressurise these militants. We have asked the state government to look into this matter and take immediate measures. If need be these surrendered militants and their families should be provided adequate security cover as well,” a senior home ministry official said.
The terror outfits are also giving financial incentive to the surrendered militants offering them huge sum of money. There are concrete reports, sources added, that for this purpose these militant organisations are getting money through the hawala channels. Intelligence agencies are keeping track on suspicious money transactions, particularly from abroad, in the Valley.
Intelligence agencies have also cautioned in their advisory that by September the militant organisations will start exerting more pressure on their ex-cadres as the season will start changing and some of the upper reaches will start getting snowfall by end of the month.
Highly-placed sources in the security agencies revealed that they have also prepared a detailed strategy to launch a fresh offensive against terror groups during the winter season. With the number of terrorists in the Valley already dwindling security forces feel winter will be an appropriate time to move in for a decisive onslaught against the terror groups.