How security forces foiled 'Tahrir Square' like plot by terrorists after Eid prayers in Srinagar

A 'Tahrir Square' like gathering of one lakh people aimed at attacking security forces in Srinagar on Tuesday was foiled as specific intelligence inputs about Pakistan backed militants penetrating the mob to fuel violence alerted forces on the ground.

According to intelligence inputs, ahead of the festival, mobs backed by terrorists were all set to trigger turmoil. "They called it the Tahrir Square moment and planned to launch a massive strike on the forces," said a top government official.

A protest march from Idgah to Lal Chowk Srinagar downtown was to be organised after Eid prayers on Tuesday aimed at escalating the continuing unrest in the state since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in July.

TAHRIR SQUARE' PLOT NIPPED

In 2011, Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt became the central point for demonstrators seeking democracy and eventually led to the overthrowing of then President Hosni Mubarak as thousands gathered on the square that has became a symbol of revolution.

Top intelligence sources said that the mass gathering could not take place as forces on the ground ensured a clampdown. "Even if 10,000 turned up and with terrorists being part of the crowd the situation would have got out of hand. If the forces were to retaliate with firing hundreds would be killed and things would only get worse," said an official.

With two deaths on Tuesday the death toll in the last two months reached 78. "Based on specific intelligence generated areas from where people were expected to join the march were identified and put under a strict vigil," the official added.

Intelligence reports also indicate that a spike in local recruitment by terror outfits is expected following the turbulence in the state over the last two months. There have been a series of clashes between raging stone pelting mobs and security forces. Last year the number was local recruits was around 80 but sources say by the end of this year the number will definitely be more.

Before violence struck the state two months back this year's tally of local youth joining terror outfits was over 30. According to agencies with successful infiltrations from across the border this year Pakistan is using the strategy to generate local unrest.

"This year Pakistan's strategy has been to try and promote radicalisation through the vested interest groups and social media so that this can be given the shape of civil resistance. Despite all this, the situation continued to improve. As a result of this the terrorist organisations got desperate and were incited to attack the Security Forces in Jammu & Kashmir," the home ministry stated in a parliament question recently.

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