Explosives-laden car to carry out Pulwama-style attack belonged to active Hizbul Mujahideen militant: Police

The police officer said on Friday that the Santro car, which was laden with about 45 kg of explosives to carry out a 2019 Pulwama-style terror attack, belonged to a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, identified as Hidayatullah Malik.

The car from which the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police had recovered about 45 kgs of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Thursday in Pulwama district, averting 2019 Pulwama-style attack, belonged to an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group, a police officer said on Friday.

The Hizbul Mujahideen militant, identified as Hidayatullah Malik, is a resident of Sharatpora in Shopian, police said. He had joined the militant ranks in July 2019.

"As per the investigations we have found the car belongs to Hidayatullah Malik. He is an active Hizbul Mujahideen militant who is a resident of Sharatpora Shopian. He had joined militant ranks in July last year and is being wanted by the forces," said a senior police officer.

The security forces in J&K averted a major incident of a 2019 Pulwama-like vehicle-borne attack on Thursday morning when they chased and seized a car laden with about 45 kg of explosives in the district.

A joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army and the CRPF swing into action on Wednesday night following an input that a terrorist was moving with an explosive-laden car in Pulwama district ready to blast at a location.

Based on intelligence inputs, the security forces intercepted a white Hyundai Santro car in Rajpora of Pulwama. "The checkposts were placed in Pulwama by the security forces on Wednesday," Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Vijay Kumar told reporters in Srinagar.

"It is a big success for police and security forces. We foiled this attack, which was similar to the 2019 Pulwama attack. The info generated by police and joint action averted a major tragedy" said Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir.

When the Santro car, laden with explosives approached a checkpost, it was signalled to stop. After an initial round of firing, its driver turned the car in a different direction and fled from the scene before being trapped at another check post.

"We had an intercept of a terrorist. When car was intercepted after an initial exchange of fire, the terrorist escaped under cover of darkness," DG, JKP, Dilbag Singh said.

The explosives were kept in a blue drum of the car, which had a fake number plate. On Thursday, a bomb disposal squad was and the vehicle was exploded, sources said.

"There is a clear hand of terror groups like JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammad] and Hizb [Hizbul Mujahideen] in this. Our probe suggests a local militant, Adil, who is with Hizb but also works with JeM, a Pakistani militant Fauji bhai of Jaish were behind this planning. Another guy by the name Walid bhai, who is an IED expert was also involved in it," a senior officer said.

Security forces say the plan most likely was to hit security forces either during a convoy or at an installation. There were inputs of the possibility of such an attack for the last few months. The ground troops were constantly asked to be alert.

(With inputs from Shuja-Ul-Haq in Srinagar)