Jaish-e-Mohammed Claims Responsibility For Botapathri Attack; Raises Concerns Over Weapon Use

An offshoot of the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), known as the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), has claimed responsibility for the recent attack on an army vehicle in Botapathri by releasing a video on social media.

The video shows a terrorist firing a rocket at an army vehicle from a densely forested area in Botapathri.

Fortunately, military officials confirmed that the rocket missed its target, landing some distance away without causing any damage.

The potential consequences of such an attack could have been severe if the rocket had struck the vehicle directly.

The incident occurred on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including two army soldiers and two civilian porters. An additional soldier succumbed to injuries in the hospital on Friday, bringing the total death toll from the attack to five.

Key Takeaways

Officials confirmed, “Terrorists fired a rocket at the army vehicle targeted in Botapathri, but it missed the intended target and fell near the vehicle without causing any damage.”

“The firing of the rocket is a cause of concern as this is the first time that such a weapon used in any recent attack on the army in Jammu and Kashmir. Had the rocket hit the vehicle, it could have led to more damage,” they asserted.

The officials further stated, “The terrorist group that attacked the Line of Control in Botapathri was not recently infiltrated. It appears that it was a group of four terrorists, who carried out the attack and had infiltrated earlier this year.”

“We feel that the group, comprising mostly of foreigners, was already in the forests of Baramulla district for the last few months and the same group carried out the attack. The tracks they have used while fleeing after the attack suggest that they have returned to the same area from where they were operating,” they added.

As per the officials, “One of the terrorists of this group is a local while the other three are foreigners. The security forces are working on the leads they are getting to track down the group.”

“The search operation has been intensified to locate the group of terrorists by using drones, helicopters, and increasing checkpoints, particularly in Tangmarg and Gulmarg areas,” they further added.

Officials further reported, “Army had also sent more soldiers, including the elite Para Commandos, who are conducting searches to track down the terrorists.”

The authorities temporarily suspended the Gulmarg Gondola cable car service as a precaution after the Botapathri attack, but they resumed operations at noon on Friday.

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