Ganderbal: The Ganderbal district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been rocked by a terrible terrorist attack that has upset people and the region, which was a safe region for tourists in the state of Kashmir. On the night of 20 October militants targeted a construction camp in Gagangir: they killed 7 employees – a doctor and a security officer among them. The attack has spurred apprehension of increased militant’s activities in the area and threats to Ladakh.
This attack is occurring as more and more infiltration incidents occur along the border with Pakistan and China. Infiltration now appears likely heightened, and intelligence agencies are also on edge, concerned that the once mainly peaceful Ladakh region is rapidly becoming some new center of terror activity.
The Rise of a New Terrorist Organization
New implicated in recent counter terrorism operation regarding the attack They show that new recruits with LeT, called Tehreek Labbaik Ya Muslim (TLM), was involved in the attack. Operated by its handler, known as Baba Hamas, it hasbeen involved with other organisations, such as TRF, Kashmir Tigers, and PAFF, in setting up this new group. It was not a lone strike but a coordinated blow dealt from the other side of the border, reports the media.
Some of the detained militants said that they were contacted through encrypted messaging apps, and although they had been supplied with some weapons, including grenades and SMGs gun from across the border, attack operations were temporarily paralyzed due to the slow arrival of weapons and ammunition. The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing arrested seven new recruits and more arrests in the case seem likely as investigation proceeds.
On 22 October, CIK officers conducted searches at various places in the valley including Srinagar, Ganderbal and Bandipora during which several individuals were interrogated in connection with the busting of TLM terrorist module. According to the findings of this research, it has observed that these new terrorist groups are active on sociable network sites especially encrypted applications to radicalise the youth and attract them to occupy new place in terrorists’ group.
The CIK also conducted searches of several places and recovered gadgets, SIM cards, and other items linking it to the events of the group. The arrested terrorists stated that there were planning to conduct attacks to disrupt elections, kill non-indigenes and minorities and conduct high profile attacks.
Security Issue Emerging out in Ladakh
Security forces are worried that some militants have acquired newfangled winter ammunition gear, they can camouflage themselves in snow and are planning to fight in the difficult climate of Ladakh region and get back to the valley of Kashmir after winters. This poses a lot of difficulties for the Indian Army and there is a question of status for Ladakh.
According to analysts this attack might have been intended to target strategic development projects in this area. Since both Pakistan and China are believed to sponsor these terrorist groups, the danger to Ladakh remains very real, very significant.
Major Threats to the Strategic Value of Ladakh
Attack in Ganderbal has raised serious questions on the possibility of fresh trouble in Ladakh akin to the Kargil aggression and Pir Panjal range. Loomba also says that since the region is close to both Pakistan and China, a combined effort is being planned to unsettle this area also raises concern among Indian security organizations.
Lack of proper action can worsen the situation very soon in Ladakh as a new theater of terrorist activities is quite possible there.