NEW DELHI, Nov 20: The prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the security forces for thwarting a major havoc and destruction by eliminating four terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed in the Nagrota area of Jammu district.
“The recovery of large cache of weapons and explosives from them indicated that their efforts to wreak major havoc and destruction have once again been thwarted,” Modi tweeted.
The prime minister also held a review meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and top intelligence establishment over the Nagrota encounter. Official sources said the terrorists were planning a “major attack” on the anniversary of the 26/11 terror attack and disrupt the election process for the eight-phase polling to constitute 20 District Development Councils in Jammu and Kashmir beginning from November 28.
“Our security forces have once again displayed utmost bravery and professionalism. Thanks to their alertness, they have defeated a nefarious plot to target grassroots level democratic exercises in Jammu and Kashmir,” Modi tweeted.
On Thursday, the encounter between terrorists and security forces broke out in the early hours near Ban Toll Plaza in the Nagrota area of Jammu district. The encounter broke out after a truck was intercepted at 5 am on Thursday during a routine check. “During the search, CRPF soldiers and police were fired upon using heavy ammunition, and grenades were also lobbed. More forces were called in and the encounter went on for 3 hours,” Mukesh Singh, inspector-general of Police, Jammu Zone said.
Four terrorists were killed in the encounter. “The seizures have indicated that they were planning a big attack. This kind of seizure is unprecedented. Their target could also be the DDC election in Jammu and Kashmir; the police have not ruled out the possibility. However, we are investigating,” Singh said.
Mumbai had come under attack on November 26, 2008, when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists targeted the city in a series of coordinated shootings and bombings that injured over 300 and claimed the lives of 166 people in India’s financial capital.
(Manas Dasgupta)
