Note ban: Loot banks in Kashmir, Pak handlers tell terrorists
'We have some information that money robbed from the two banks may well have been used for financing Saturday's attack,' an official said.
New Delhi: In a bid to generate more resources for their activities, handlers of terror operatives from across the border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are now directing their cadre in the Kashmir Valley to target banks as they are said to be facing a major cash crunch following Centre’s demonetisation move.
Wireless intercepts available with the security agencies reveal that handlers of terror groups in PoK are now asking their local commanders in the Valley to loot banks for financing those militants which are targeting security personnel. In fact, security agencies are now investigating the possibility of whether money looted from two banks in Pulwama and Charar-e-Sharif in the last few days was used in Saturday’s attack on an Army convoy in Pampore in which three security personnel were killed.
“We have some information that money robbed from the two banks may well have been used for financing Saturday’s attack. A detailed investigation is being carried out on this aspect too in addition to the possible lapses. There is no doubt that post demonetisation terror groups in the Valley are facing a major shortage of cash as hawala network, which was their major source of funding, has been badly hit. Since militants are given cash incentive or rewards for killing security personnel there is a possibility that money looted form banks is being used for this purpose,’’ a senior security official said.
The Union home ministry has already directed the J&K government and paramilitary forces that adequate security cover should be provided to all bank branches in the Valley and vehicles transporting cash. Following these intelligence inputs, the ministry is expected to send another advisory to the state government on providing security to banks, sources added.
In wake of the Pampore incident, fresh instructions have also been issued to the Army and CRPF to strictly follow the laid down standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the road opening parties which accompany convoys of security forces. Sources said the stretch of Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Pampore, where the attack happened, “has been extremely vulnerable” to such attacks in the past also and more precaution should have been taken.