Dhangri massacre! Despite strong efforts from J&K Police, NIA, terrorists still at large; Some important leads are likely 

Dhangri massacre! Despite strong efforts from J&K Police, NIA, terrorists still at large; Some important leads are likely

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH/RAJOURI/JAMMU: The other day, hundreds of people of village Dhangri held a candlelight protest against the government for its failure to nab the terrorists who were involved in the Dhangri massacre on January 1, 2023, in which seven people  were killed and 14 injured when terrorists opened fire on members of a minority community in the Dhangri area of Rajouri district.

Earlier, massive protests were started against the government after the incident as people alleged massive security failures on the part of Rajouri police and demanded the transfer of SSP Rajouri and Deputy Commissioner Rajouri. After the unfortunate incident, massive efforts were started by the J&K police, under the supervision of the DGP J&K police, Dilbagh Singh(IPS), and intelligence agencies to trace the terrorists and their supporters. The government also handed the investigation over to the NIA to investigate  the case. J&K police have time and again said that the terrorist will be captured as massive leads have been gathered into the case, but despite the positive statements made by the top brass of J&K police, those involved in the gruesome terror attack are still untraceable. Initially, it was a complete failure of the Rajouri police, as men and police machinery failed to take prompt action after the incident. It is important to mention here that Rajouri police remained less professional in dealing with terrorism-related incidents over the last two years. An impression was gaining momentum after the Dhangri attack that Pakistan was keen to revive terrorism in the Poonch-Rajouri belt. Under massive pressure from the public and national media, the J&K police, NIA, and intelligence agencies started a massive drive to flush out those involved in the terrorist attack. In between, J&K police also came out with an announcement that terrorists were hiding in hilly areas of Rajouri and those who provided information about their presence would be rewarded with Rs 10 lakhs. Dhangri residents even threatened the government, saying that the people will come on the roads if the security agencies fail to bring culprits to justice. However, the NIA reportedly has grilled more than 100s of people in the case, but no proper results are seen during the investigation. J&K police, the NIA, and intelligence agencies are leaving no stone unturned in getting to the terrorists who were involved in the Dhangri attack, but no progress in the case yet shows that Pakistan has been playing astute tactics in sheltering terrorists. Those who were accused of facilitating the terrorists were also grilled, but no proper outcome has come to the attention of security agencies. Due to their failure to get proper leads, the intelligence agencies think that those involved in the Dhangri attack were properly briefed by Pakistan. Has Pakistan developed a new type of ecosystem to carry forward its mission of terrorism in J&K? This is a million-dollar question, which the security agencies are looking into. There is also a possibility that terrorists might have used the mobile phones of locals by giving them monetary benefits to carry on with their agenda to hoodwink forces as far as capturing their digital movements. It is pertinent to mention that this type of incident has taken place in the Poonch-Rajouri region after two decades, and this has raised an alarm in the intelligence and security agencies. Are the terrorists well trained to survive in the jungle if J&K police claim that those involved in the attack are hiding in the hilly area? After a few days, the police said that those who were involved in the attack went back to Pakistan after executing their plan. Such types of statements are causing huge inconvenience to the people of Dhangri, as they are still looking for justice. The delay in capturing the real culprits by the J&K police, NIA, and intelligence agencies has shown that Pakistan might have been using new tactics to dodge every agency. Family members of those killed and injured in the Dhangri attack are still waiting for justice, and the delay in the investigation is further adding to their woes. A few days ago, DGP J&K Police Dilbagh Singh said that the Dhangri incident was executed by foreign terrorists from Pakistan who infiltrated into the Poonch-Rajouri range. Some top officials of the J&K Police have many times said that the security agencies have massive leads and those involved in the terror attack will be captured shortly, but after so many weeks, the security forces have not tasted any success in the case, thereby raising the morale of Pakistan and its agencies operating within and outside the Indian territory. SSP Rajouri was also transferred a few days ago for his alleged breakdown in tackling the case strongly. The entire men and machinery of the Rajouri police have remained under a big question mark over the past some time due to the rise in terrorist-related incidents in the district, and it is interesting to see how the new SSP counters these emerging challenges. In addition to this Dhangri incident, J&K police have failed to trace those involved in the Bhatadurian encounter more than a year ago, in which a number of army personnel were killed. The sudden rise in terrorist activities in the Rajouri-Poonch region has given J&K police, security, and intelligence agencies a big challenge, and it is interesting to see how police in the twin border districts of Rajouri-Poonch will tackle this emerging challenge. Meanwhile, J&K police, the NIA, and intelligence agencies are making hectic efforts to bring to book those involved in the Dhangri terrorist attack, and it is likely that a big success in the case will soon be a reality because the government reportedly is keen to bring the real culprits to justice. Whatever the outcome of the case, reportedly the security agencies have some big leads into it, and there might be some breakthrough into the case. J&K police, the NIA, and intelligence agencies have solved some big terrorism related cases over the past few months, and going by the success rate of the security and intelligence agencies and with the number of likely leads, those involved in the Dhangri attack will likely be taken to task sooner than later.