Sticky bombs with timers used in Udhampur;
Lashkar behind attack; Arrested person Aslam
Sheikh was active militant in 2005; motive was to
target high profile ministerial visit; 5 such IEDs with
timers were available with Sheikh still; Stick bombs
a serious challenge;
Jammu Tawi, Oct 02: J&K Director General of Police
(DGP) Dilbagh Singh Sunday said that in the recent two
back to back explosions in Udhampur district sticky
bombs fitted with timers were used and that person
involved in the act is a local who was an active militant
in 2005, arrested and then released.
The DGP said that former militants are being recycled
into militancy by their mentors across to carry out sticky
bomb attacks and this time high profile ministerial visit
was a possible target to show that “all wasn't well in
J&K.” DGP said that former militant Aslam Sheikh was
involved in the Udhampur twin blasts that left two
persons injured. “There were at last four to five such
IEDs/bombs available with them and possible target was
the upcoming high profile visit. Sheikh has confessed to
the crime,” he said, adding that consignments of sticky
bombs are available with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and there
is a possibility that Jaish-e-Muhammad may be also
used a few.
“In Udhampur explosions, timers were fixed for seven
and 14 hours. Aslam Sheikh was in touch with his
Pakistani handler Muhammad Amin Bhat alias Khubaib.
Sheikh received three sticky bombs and four new IEDs,”
said DGP, who was accompanied by ADGP Jammu
Mukhesh Singh.
Replying to a query whether Pakistan is trying to bring
back all the former militant into militancy, the DGP said
that police are keeping a close watch on all the
former/released militants and OGWs keeping in view the
involvement of some in the militant activities in the
recent past. “In Kashmir, hybrid militancy is being
promoted and that is being countered well by the police,”
he said. “There is an indication that former/released
militants are being recycled again into militancy to carry
out sticky bomb attacks.”
After the interrogation of Sheikh, the DGP said, it was
found that it is easy to assemble the sticky bomb which
is magnet based and has a timer fixed in it. “
He said that at present security scenario is much better
compared to past four years. “So elements not happy
with the peace always try to hatch conspiracies to
convey that situation wasn't well in Kashmir,” the DGP
said.
