Army launches search operation in Kashmir

Hours after militants appeared in a local mosque in Hajin town of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, security forces Monday morning launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in the area to trace the ultras.

Sources said that the CASO was launched after a group of heavily armed Lashker-e-Toiba militants appeared at a local mosque after Isha (night) prayers on Monday. The militants, they said, had challenged the forces to arrest them.

Local media quoting eyewitnesses said the militants also told people to stay alert as the security forces were “planning to arrest several youths from the town.” This was the second time in a month that militants appeared in a mosque in the area.

On June 7, within 24 hours of attacking an army camp, LeT militants made their appearance at the local mosque, where they advised people to stay away from police and army camps. The militants’ have been making public appearance in Hajin area frequently over the past few months.

Hajin, 32 kms from Srinagar, was once known as the epicentre of pro-government militia - Ikhwan - who broke the back of militancy in 1990’s. From mid 90's to later part of last decade Hajin was out of bounds for militants as it was the home town of the most dreaded renegade Kuka Parray, a star anti-militancy commander.

However, over the last three years, Hajin has emerged as a bastion of LeT as they ‘feel safe’ in the area. The vast swathes of orchards, huge clusters of villages, close proximity to Srinagar on south and Bandipora on north makes Hajin an important transit point for militants as it is also connected to the highway.

“LeT slain commander Abu Qasim cultivated over ground workers (OGWs) in Hajin for over two years before he got killed in October 2015. He engaged with some former Ikhwanis and suggested them to bury the past and start afresh,” a senior police officer told DH.

“Now over two dozen active LeT militants, mostly Pakistanis, are operating in the area with a strong OGW base. Militants appearing in public places in Hajin show how emboldened they are at the moment,” he revealed.

A local LeT militant Saleem Parray, police believes, is the mastermind of attacks on security forces and civilians in the area.