Pakistan-based terror groups behind weapons, narcotics dropped by drones in J-K: DGP

Jammu, July 2

Asserting that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfits are behind the dropping of arms, IEDs and narcotics by drones in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said on Friday that the time had come to defeat and reject terrorism to usher in peace and development in the Union Territory.

He said counter-insurgency operations would be further speeded up to wipe out terrorism, while efforts are on to further strengthen security arrangements to counter the threat posed by the drones, especially in the aftermath of the recent attack on the Indian Air Force base in Jammu.

Talking to reporters after the attestation-cum-passing-out parade of the 27th Basic Recruitment Training Course (BRTC) in Kathua district, the DGP said LeT’s hand is suspected behind the twin drone strikes inside the IAF station, Jammu, in the early hours of Sunday.

“The investigation [in the IAF bombing] is in progress. We have not reached any conclusive stage so as to say who is actually involved but now that we have past history of Lashkar using drones to drop weapons, narcotics on this side besides the ready-made Improvised Explosive Devices to be planted at various locations… so at this stage, I would only say that LeT hand is suspected and rest when we move further in the investigation we will be able to say further,” Singh said.

Referring to the arrest of a terrorist with 5.5 kg of IED in Jammu, he said a module was busted which was planning to carry out an IED explosion at a crowded place to cause a large number of casualties on the same day when the twin bombs were dropped on the air force station.

“The IED came and was sent from the LeT handler from that side [Pakistan]. The fellow who was to receive that IED has been arrested and is being interrogated. The IED was to be planted at a crowded place to cause a large number of casualties,” the police chief said, complimenting the security agencies and Jammu police for the successful operation of thwarting the attempt before the IED could be planted.

Before the attack in Jammu, Singh said over a dozen incidents of weapon droppings by LeT with the use of drones have taken place. He said RDX was found used in the IED which was recovered. “It was fabricated to be carried and dropped by a drone,” he said.

Describing drones as a major security threat, Singh said “the use of drones by anti-national elements, terrorists, to drop weapons and IEDs is a threat and we are taking counter steps (to defeat their designs)”. PTI