New Delhi, Mar 29
The Centre will launch Operation All-Out Part 2 in Jammu and Kashmir to target top 14 commanders of terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen.
According to sources, 250 terrorists are active in the state.
A hit list containing names of terrorists like Zeenat-ul-Islam alias Alkama, LeT's Shopian divisional commander; Wasim AH alias Osama, LeT's Shopian district commander and Showkat AH Tak alias Huzaifa, LeT's Pulwama district commander has been prepared, according to intelligence sources.
The list, which is available with India Today, also contains names of Umar Bhai, LeT's Baramulla district commander; Dada Bhai, LeT's Anantnag district commander and Mohd. Bin Qasim, HM's operational commander.
Under Operation All-Out, a joint offensive of the Army, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, BSF, and IB launched in the second half of 2017, 39 terrorists, including 23 of foreign origin, have been killed so far this year.
The number of terrorists eliminated also includes 14 members of JeM, 11 LeT members and 6 of Hizbul Mujahideen.
Lieutenant General (retired) and defence expert Shankar Prasad feels that though 215-225 terrorists were eliminated under Operation All-Out last year, the strategy and approach to target militancy should be changed.
“The operation should be conducted only on intelligence inputs. Even local supporters of terrorists should be targeted,” he told India Today.
Major General (retired) and security expert PK Sehgal said, “If these 14 commanders are eliminated, it will be a big blow to these terror outfits. It will demoralise terror outfits and affect their recruitment.”
