- LeT commander Latif Bhat and his associate are suspected in recent targeted killings in Kashmir.
- Two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh were killed in Kulgam on Friday.
- Preliminary probe suggests pistols were used in the latest attacks.
- Agencies suspect sleeper cells linked to LeT offshoot TRF were reactivated.
GG News Bureau
Srinagar, 1st Aug: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Latif Bhat and his associate are suspected to be behind a series of recent targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, including Friday’s terrorist attack in Kulgam that left two migrant workers dead, according to security agencies.
Officials suspect Bhat’s associate, Waris Shah, provided logistical support and conducted reconnaissance for the attacks. Security agencies have launched a hunt for the two suspects.
Terrorists opened fire on migrant workers in Kulgam on Friday evening. Deepak, a resident of Chhattisgarh, died on the spot, while Bhupender, also from Chhattisgarh, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a hospital.
The incident marked the second targeted terrorist attack in Kashmir in around 10 days. A policeman was killed in a targeted attack in Anantnag last week, prompting a major security crackdown across the Valley.
According to the preliminary investigation, a small-calibre weapon, likely a pistol, was used in both attacks rather than an AK-47 rifle. Officials said the pattern points towards the possible involvement of so-called “hybrid terrorists” — locally recruited over-ground workers who carry out attacks before blending back into the civilian population.
Security officials said the modus operandi also bears similarities to attacks attributed to The Resistance Front (TRF), described by authorities as an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba. TRF has previously been associated with quick pistol attacks designed to minimise the attackers’ footprint and evade detection.
Officials believe the attacks are aimed at spreading fear among non-local workers and disrupting efforts to restore normalcy in Kashmir.
Latif Bhat had earlier come under the security agencies’ radar following an encounter in Shopian, where he was trapped along with senior LeT commander Zakir Ganai. Ganai was killed during the five-day operation, while Bhat managed to escape.
Security agencies now suspect Bhat may have subsequently reactivated sleeper cells to carry out targeted attacks on non-locals and security personnel allegedly on instructions from handlers across the border.
