JAMMU: They were awakened by knocks at their doors. Policemen armed with automatic rifles surrounded their homes, bundled them into vehicles, and sped away through the forest tracks in their villages, which are about 25km apart and 110km southeast of Jammu city.
These arrests added weight to suspicions of local support in the resurgence of terrorist activities in the Jammu zone of J&K, raising questions about the region’s security dynamics and the broader socio-political underpinnings.
Police released a stripped-down statement. “Through meticulous investigation, two over ground workers (OGWs) have been identified and arrested for supporting terrorism-related activities. They are Layaqat Ali, alias Pawu, son of Gammi, from Ward No. 07, Kalna Dhanu Parole, Billawar, Kathua, and Mool Raj, alias Jenju, son of Uttam Chand, from Bowli Mohalla, Malhar, also in Kathua district.”
Ali and Raj are residents of sleepy hamlets deep in the Pir Panjal range that slices through J&K — Jammu to the south and Kashmir valley to the north. Residents live miles apart. Cell and internet service is inconsistent — or non-existent. Here, nightly knocks could either mean terrorist, police, or a cousin who lost his cow in the woods.
The two men’s villages are within range of Badnota, where an ambush on a two-truck patrol claimed the lives of five soldiers from 22 Garhwal Rifles on July 8. From vantage points, the terrorists fired bullets downrange when the trucks were slowly negotiating a bend on Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road.
The area falls under the Machedi forest belt — a remote and rugged landscape dotted with deep gorges, thick foliage, and mountain caves, providing ample cover for terrorists operating in small groups. In this treacherous terrain, security forces have struggled to neutralise the threat effectively, despite extensive seek-and-kill operations involving drones, helicopters, and military dogs.
The situation raises critical questions. How do terrorists, presumed to be from Pakistan, manage to launch lethal attacks and evade capture in this challenging landscape? Do they have a local support system in place, or are they using coercion — gunpoint intimidation — and financial incentives to gain the support of impoverished villagers?
Authorities have long claimed that local support is crucial for these Pakistani terrorists, who lack familiarity with the lay of the land. “Foreign terrorists, unfamiliar with the topography and security layout, cannot operate effectively without local guidance,” said a retired Army officer. “They can’t move a step outside of their hideout. But they struck at specific places of their choice (in recent attacks), which is not possible without local support and guidance.”
According to security sources, more than 60 foreign terrorists, trained in jungle warfare, are active in small groups within the Jammu region. These groups are equipped with advanced technology, including iridium satellite phones and thermal imagery, and use high-end weapons like the American M4 carbine.
Their capacity to coordinate attacks poses a significant challenge for security forces, evidenced by the successful ambushes and subsequent escapes, using dense foliage and darkness to their advantage. Recent attacks, such as the July 8 ambush on a military patrol, demonstrate the terrorists’ ability to strike specific targets with precision, indicating strong local knowledge.
Ali and Raj were arrested for allegedly aiding the terrorists in hiding and navigating the area undetected. Earlier, police had arrested four men, including Showket Ali, who allegedly provided food, shelter, and WiFi access to three terrorists before the July 15 attack in Desa forest of Doda district, which left four soldiers dead.
“Foreign terrorists might be luring locals with huge sums of money to work for them as OGWs,” said the retired Army officer. “They offer them a sense of comfort and safety in exchange for logistical support and intelligence.”
On June 19, police arrested a 45-year-old man named Hakam Din, alleged to be an OGW and prime suspect in guiding and sheltering the group of suspected Pakistani gunmen who attacked a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district on June 9, resulting in the deaths of nine people. Din allegedly received Rs 6,000 for his assistance, which police claimed to have found in his possession.
The timing of the attacks, often occurring in isolated areas and at night, further suggested a dependence on local support. “Without using GPS or other navigation aids to avoid detection, these terrorists need locals to guide them,” a security source said. Recent terrorist strikes, including the Bhangri shootout and the Chatergalla mountain pass attack, highlighted the dependency of terrorists on local operatives.
In 2023, security agencies arrested 291 people associated with terrorist groups, emphasising the widespread threat of local support. J&K DGP RR Swain reported the dismantling of 89 terrorist modules, with 78 in Kashmir and 11 in Jammu. Despite these efforts, the surge in attacks this summer has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures.
Authorities have warned people against aiding terrorists, while also urging locals to report any “suspicious movement” in their area. Locals denied any involvement with terrorists. One villager, who preferred to remain anonymous, offered a perspective on their predicament soon after the Reasi pilgrim bus attack: “What do you do when a jihadi points an AK-47 at your head and demands food? Yield or fight back? Inform police and risk retaliation?”
The escalation in terrorism-related violence has concerned locals in upper reaches, who demanded the strengthening of village defence groups (VDGs) to tackle threats. In places like Kralaan village of Doda, VDGs are assisting security forces in the counteroffensive.
The key to intelligence gathering is surveillance, stakeouts, and stealth — essential for telling the bad guys from the good. However, the recent string of attacks and fatalities have raised concerns about intelligence failures.
Historically, the nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwal community has been a vital intelligence source for security agencies. However, recent events have strained this relationship. The granting of scheduled tribe status to the Paharis and the deaths of three community members in Army custody last winter have caused a sense of betrayal among some Bakerwal members.
Nevertheless, community leaders reaffirm their patriotism. “Our community has always supported the Army,” said Adil Khan, a Bakerwal. “We reciprocate the Army’s assistance with our cooperation.”
Advocate Anwer Choudhary echoed this sentiment, stressing that the community remains focused on their safety and well-being rather than reservation issues.
The attacks are particularly concerning, with the Supreme Court setting a deadline of Sept 30 for the upcoming assembly elections in J&K. Is the surge in terrorist activities a deliberate attempt to derail the democratic process? Official sources said the attacks are designed to project a sense of dominance by the terrorists despite the enhanced security grid in the region.
These arrests added weight to suspicions of local support in the resurgence of terrorist activities in the Jammu zone of J&K, raising questions about the region’s security dynamics and the broader socio-political underpinnings.
Police released a stripped-down statement. “Through meticulous investigation, two over ground workers (OGWs) have been identified and arrested for supporting terrorism-related activities. They are Layaqat Ali, alias Pawu, son of Gammi, from Ward No. 07, Kalna Dhanu Parole, Billawar, Kathua, and Mool Raj, alias Jenju, son of Uttam Chand, from Bowli Mohalla, Malhar, also in Kathua district.”
Ali and Raj are residents of sleepy hamlets deep in the Pir Panjal range that slices through J&K — Jammu to the south and Kashmir valley to the north. Residents live miles apart. Cell and internet service is inconsistent — or non-existent. Here, nightly knocks could either mean terrorist, police, or a cousin who lost his cow in the woods.
The two men’s villages are within range of Badnota, where an ambush on a two-truck patrol claimed the lives of five soldiers from 22 Garhwal Rifles on July 8. From vantage points, the terrorists fired bullets downrange when the trucks were slowly negotiating a bend on Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road.
The area falls under the Machedi forest belt — a remote and rugged landscape dotted with deep gorges, thick foliage, and mountain caves, providing ample cover for terrorists operating in small groups. In this treacherous terrain, security forces have struggled to neutralise the threat effectively, despite extensive seek-and-kill operations involving drones, helicopters, and military dogs.
The situation raises critical questions. How do terrorists, presumed to be from Pakistan, manage to launch lethal attacks and evade capture in this challenging landscape? Do they have a local support system in place, or are they using coercion — gunpoint intimidation — and financial incentives to gain the support of impoverished villagers?
Authorities have long claimed that local support is crucial for these Pakistani terrorists, who lack familiarity with the lay of the land. “Foreign terrorists, unfamiliar with the topography and security layout, cannot operate effectively without local guidance,” said a retired Army officer. “They can’t move a step outside of their hideout. But they struck at specific places of their choice (in recent attacks), which is not possible without local support and guidance.”
According to security sources, more than 60 foreign terrorists, trained in jungle warfare, are active in small groups within the Jammu region. These groups are equipped with advanced technology, including iridium satellite phones and thermal imagery, and use high-end weapons like the American M4 carbine.
Their capacity to coordinate attacks poses a significant challenge for security forces, evidenced by the successful ambushes and subsequent escapes, using dense foliage and darkness to their advantage. Recent attacks, such as the July 8 ambush on a military patrol, demonstrate the terrorists’ ability to strike specific targets with precision, indicating strong local knowledge.
Ali and Raj were arrested for allegedly aiding the terrorists in hiding and navigating the area undetected. Earlier, police had arrested four men, including Showket Ali, who allegedly provided food, shelter, and WiFi access to three terrorists before the July 15 attack in Desa forest of Doda district, which left four soldiers dead.
“Foreign terrorists might be luring locals with huge sums of money to work for them as OGWs,” said the retired Army officer. “They offer them a sense of comfort and safety in exchange for logistical support and intelligence.”
On June 19, police arrested a 45-year-old man named Hakam Din, alleged to be an OGW and prime suspect in guiding and sheltering the group of suspected Pakistani gunmen who attacked a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district on June 9, resulting in the deaths of nine people. Din allegedly received Rs 6,000 for his assistance, which police claimed to have found in his possession.
The timing of the attacks, often occurring in isolated areas and at night, further suggested a dependence on local support. “Without using GPS or other navigation aids to avoid detection, these terrorists need locals to guide them,” a security source said. Recent terrorist strikes, including the Bhangri shootout and the Chatergalla mountain pass attack, highlighted the dependency of terrorists on local operatives.
In 2023, security agencies arrested 291 people associated with terrorist groups, emphasising the widespread threat of local support. J&K DGP RR Swain reported the dismantling of 89 terrorist modules, with 78 in Kashmir and 11 in Jammu. Despite these efforts, the surge in attacks this summer has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures.
Authorities have warned people against aiding terrorists, while also urging locals to report any “suspicious movement” in their area. Locals denied any involvement with terrorists. One villager, who preferred to remain anonymous, offered a perspective on their predicament soon after the Reasi pilgrim bus attack: “What do you do when a jihadi points an AK-47 at your head and demands food? Yield or fight back? Inform police and risk retaliation?”
The escalation in terrorism-related violence has concerned locals in upper reaches, who demanded the strengthening of village defence groups (VDGs) to tackle threats. In places like Kralaan village of Doda, VDGs are assisting security forces in the counteroffensive.
The key to intelligence gathering is surveillance, stakeouts, and stealth — essential for telling the bad guys from the good. However, the recent string of attacks and fatalities have raised concerns about intelligence failures.
Historically, the nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwal community has been a vital intelligence source for security agencies. However, recent events have strained this relationship. The granting of scheduled tribe status to the Paharis and the deaths of three community members in Army custody last winter have caused a sense of betrayal among some Bakerwal members.
Nevertheless, community leaders reaffirm their patriotism. “Our community has always supported the Army,” said Adil Khan, a Bakerwal. “We reciprocate the Army’s assistance with our cooperation.”
Advocate Anwer Choudhary echoed this sentiment, stressing that the community remains focused on their safety and well-being rather than reservation issues.
The attacks are particularly concerning, with the Supreme Court setting a deadline of Sept 30 for the upcoming assembly elections in J&K. Is the surge in terrorist activities a deliberate attempt to derail the democratic process? Official sources said the attacks are designed to project a sense of dominance by the terrorists despite the enhanced security grid in the region.
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