LeT man Abu Qasim mastermind of Udhampur attack
Mohammed Naved alias Usman has told his interrogators that it was Qasim who received them once they crossed over, and also provided additional arms and ammunition to the group who had successfully infiltrated into Indian territory.
Abu Qasim, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander in Jammu and Kashmir responsible for a series of strikes in the state over the last few years, is proving to be a mystery man for the counter-terror agencies.
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Recent terror strikes on security forces have been carried out by terrorists who infiltrated from Pakistan. But the man plotting these attacks has been in the Indian territory for nearly three years and is now giving a slip to intelligence agencies and security forces. Qasim, has again emerged as the brain behind the recent attack on the BSF convoy in Udhampur carried out by terrorists from Pakistan, who after infiltrating from across the border were received by him. He instructed them to carry out the strikes.
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Mohammed Naved alias Usman has told his interrogators that it was Qasim who received them once they crossed over, and also provided additional arms and ammunition to the group who had successfully infiltrated into Indian territory. Naved has also told interrogators that he was part of a group of six terrorists who crossed over from Pakistan. Sources told Mail Today that Qasim has a group of around 20 young boys, including some who have crossed over and also some locals. "He has been operating from the forest areas of Shopian and Kulgam of South Kashmir. He is the mastermind behind the recent strikes in the state. The terrorists who infiltrate are given shelter by him and he gives instructions to them on how and where to strike," said an intelligence official. Incidentally, Qasim has been active in South Kashmir from where there has been a surge in recruitment of Kashmiri youths by terror groups recently.
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Sources said in the last few years local youths from the area have been joining these outfits, mostly Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). "It's difficult to say whether these recruitments have a link with Qasim since it's mostly JeM and he is a LeT commander," said an intelligence official. It is believed that his group of around 20 is split into smaller groups and they facilitate the attacks by Pakistani terrorists who cross over. They help them in infiltrating and then feed them with the local knowledge and logistics, sources said. Qasim is said to have infiltrated sometime in 2013 and was part of a strike on the Army on June 24, 2013 killing eight soldiers and injuring 16. Since then he has been orchestrating all terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.There are reports that Qasim was present when Naved was captured after his accomplice Mohammed Nomeen was gunned down when the two attacked the BSF jawans travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.
Over the last two years there has been a series of terror attacks after terrorists from Pakistan infiltrated and attacked the security forces. Constant intelligence inputs have been generated about LeT terrorists in Pakistan making attempts to sneak in and carry out attacks. But forces on the ground have failed to plug the loopholes to ensure that the terrorists do not cross over. It's not just infiltration from LoC in Kashmir but also across the International Border in Jammu that has been reported. Recent intelligence inputs have also revealed that new terror launch pads within striking distance from the International Border have been set up by LeT. Backed by Pakistani forces, these have been set up in areas close to the border, ensuring that the distance is so short that it takes only a few minutes to cross over into Jammu and carry out fidayeen attacks.