Security lapses become evident in light of Jammu terror attack

Chilling details of security lapse have emerged in the Jammu terror attack that claimed 13 lives on Thursday. Officials  privy to investigation said crucial time was lost after the attack on the Hiranagar police station to relay the message to PCR that could have alerted the nakas on the Jammu-Pathankote highway and possibly intercepted the truck commandeered by three militants.

Officials have managed to piece together the sequence of events during the attack and it was proved that after militants left the police station around 6.50 am, the officials should have alerted the PCR instantly. Instead the PCR got it around 7.10 am.

The PCR alerted its counterparts in Kathua and Samba but by the time they reacted, crucial time was wasted. Militants managed to reach the cavalry unit gate before storming  inside.

Superintendent of police, Kathua, Mohan Lal however denied that there was delay in alerting the PCR.“There was no delay in relaying the message”,  Lal told dna
Official sources said the role of BSF too has come under sharp criticism for not detecting the militants’ movement on the International border. “The way three militants could cross in and trek to the nearest village without being detected is a serious security lapse,” said a source. Even the units of army in Hiranagar and other Intelligence agencies too failed to alert after the first attack in the police station, sources said.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the three slain militants are most probably Pakistanis.  They were wearing combat dresses and brand new shoes. Police is verifying where from these shoes were purchased. Besides automatic rifles, one knife with Rawalpindi marking was found.

Long haul planned?
Vitamin boxes have been recovered from the slain militants, which suggest that they were here for a long haul, officials privy to the investigation said. They added that the boxes were purchased in Pakistan.