80 militants ready to sneak into J&K to create trouble

Nearly 80 militants armed with sophisticated weapons are waiting across the Line of Control to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir to create trouble in the run up to US President Barack Obama's visit to the country next month, a senior official said.

The militants, belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jash-e-Mohammad, Al Badar and other terror groups, are looking for opportunities at launch pads to cross over to Jammu & Kashmir.

"The next ten days are crucial. We have information that the militants will try to engage in violence in the run up to the US president's visit to India," a government official said.

Obama will arrive in India on November 6 on a three-day visit.

LeT hardcore terrorist Muzzamil, whose name has also figured in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had led a group of militants who carried out a massacre of 36 Sikhs in Chattisinghpora in south Kashmir on the intervening night of March 19-20, 2000 when President Bill Clinton was on his first state visit to India.

The Kashmir Valley had witnessed a fierce gunfight between security forces and militants yesterday in which three ultras were killed after the police two blasted two houses where the terrorists were holed up since Wednesday night.

"Militants also may try to attack security forces and public properties before or during the shift of government machinery from Srinagar to Jammu, the winter capital of the state, on October 4 and 5.

Government has also enhanced security in Chabad houses or Jewish centres located in different parts of the country as these religious places continued to be vulnerable as terrorist targets.

The Chabad house in Mumbai was one of the targets during the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai.

Security agencies also fear a spurt in violence in Naxal-affected areas as intelligence agencies have indicated that Maoists are planning more violence in areas dominated by them.

"We have directed the concerned authorities to tighten security to foil any attempt by Naxals to disturb peace," the official said.