Did Pakistan’s Ex-Army Men Carry Out Doda Attack? Was Their SSG Involved? Agencies Probing All Angles

Is Pakistan now involving its ex-Army personnel to foment terrorism in Jammu? The theory is gaining credence after the recent Doda attack which killed four from Rashtriya Rifles.

“It requires military level training to take such precision strike at unarmed parts of body and remain hidden in forests for so long,” a source told CNN-News18.

Prima facie evidence suggests that the Doda martyrs were targeted on areas which were left uncovered by the helmet and bulletproof jackets.

Agencies are now looking at the possibility of the involvement of Pakistani SSG — their Special Service Group — in the recent spate of attacks in Jammu Division. The security grid suspects that Pakistan’s Retired regulars could have infiltrated as mercenaries. Pakistan had sent its regular army men from the Northern Light Infantry in the Kargil war.

The SSG is the special secret operations force of the Pakistan army, whose members are directly recruited to their Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

‘NO CONTACT WITH OUTSIDE WORLD; HAVE WEAPONS USED IN AFGHAN WAR’

The Kashmir Tigers, a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) shadow group, has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.

Probe has revealed that the Doda terrorists used armour piercing bullets and US-made M4 carbines, which were used in the Afghanistan war. Officials said the manner in which the Doda terrorists have refrained from any contact with the outside world and remained hidden in forests shows military level training.

Sources said the probe is also looking into the possible involvement of SSG of Pakistan in other recent incidents of terrorism in the Jammu division.

In a statement, the Army said it has been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border and are moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region and thereafter to Kashmir. “All formations of northern command are committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for which the relentless operations will continue,” the Army said.

THE MONDAY ATTACK, THE SEARCH IS ON

Captain Brijesh Thapa from Darjeeling, Naik Dokkari Rajesh from Andhra Pradesh, and Sepoys Bijendra and Ajay Kumar Singh from Rajasthan suffered fatal injuries in the gunfight in the Desa forest area, where troops from the Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched a cordon-and-search operation on Monday night. Following the encounter, security forces have launched an extensive operation in the Desa forest belt to flush out terrorists.

The Army, along with para-commandos and aerial support from drones and helicopters, is intensifying its search operation to eliminate the terrorists who are suspected to have infiltrated from across the border and taken refuge in the forest area.

The Jammu region, once relatively peaceful, has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities since 2021. Over 70 people, including 52 security personnel, mostly from the Army, have lost their lives in these attacks.

With PTI Inputs