'Terror Outfits Recruiting Youth In Indian Border Villages'

By Altaf Alam in Srinagar

Days after fresh recruits of terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen posted a group photo on social media platform, the intelligence agencies have warned that at least 14 LeT and 5 Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists have infiltrated into J&K and are preying upon naive youth from villages situated in bordering districts.

LeT runs recruitment and training centres in Muzaffarabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Multan and Quetta. JeM is running two terror training camps for recruits in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Top sources said JeM group is led by Gazali, a battle hardened terrorist from Pakistan, who is believed to be operating in Awantipora.
An interception from across the border has indicated that Gazali’s close associate Haroon, a Pakistani national, is also operating in the region to lure the youngsters. JeM which continues to receive funding from the ISI and its sympathisers in Saudi Arabia and the UK, is suspected to be responsible for fidayeen attack in Kathua in March.

 “These terror operatives from Pakistan are using the network honed by their sleeper cells to make inroads in villages,” the sources said.  It is learnt that LeT Commander Abu Qasim alias Mohammad Bhai and his close aide Abu Dujana – both from Pakistan – infiltrated into J&K and joined several other LeT terrorists operating in the Valley. LeT commander Khumani,  who was trained in Pakistan, has also been identified by the intelligence agencies after they intercepted several chats between the terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan.

“Electronic interception indicates that terrorists may be moving in the areas of Bogund, Baan and Khudwani. Security forces are on high alert,” he added.

Although, LeT is banned by Pakistan, the US, the UK and India, it uses Jamat-ud Dawa, a charity organisation to disguise its terror activities and raise finances.  Though the government claims that infiltration figures have gone down drastically in the last one year, terrorists continue to find fault-lines in border security.  An officer from the security establishment said footprints of Pakistani terrorists in Budgam, Pulawama and Shopian are a major worry for the security forces as these areas are considered to be sensitive.