Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir): Militants who have been eluding security forces after fatal attacks for the last 18 months in the forests of Rajouri district are armed with high-tech technology and have been using the Alpine mobile phone application to navigate in the dense forests and dodge the security forces, sources said.
The frequent militant attacks in the Pir Panjal region including Poonch and Rajouri districts have emerged as a major headache for the security forces for the last one and half year. A total of 35 people, including 26 soldiers have been killed in eight militant attacks in the twin districts since Oct. 2021. Significantly, the two districts were declared terrorism-free more than a decade ago, but have hogged headlines with recent attacks.
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In the latest attack, five soldiers were killed while another was injured after militants triggered an explosion during an explosion during an encounter with security forces in Kandi forest area of Rajouri on Friday, May 5. The attack came barely two weeks after five soldiers were killed and another injured when militants torched an Army truck and opened fire on the soldiers in Tota Gali area of Bhattta Dhurian in Poonch district.
After causing heavy casualties among the security forces, militants have been eluding the security forces in the dense forest area along the Indo-Pak border. Sources said that the militants have been using the Alpine mobile application to navigate the treacherous terrain. According to sources, unlike earlier operations when militants used satellite phones, they are now relying on high-tech apps especially Alpine mobile application.
Through the application, the militants can save their route from the hideout to the spot of the attack. On their way back to the hideout, the mobile application helps the felling militants to navigate the route irrespective of the strength of the mobile network. According to the sources, the militants have made several routes to the hideouts deep in the caves which they are frequently using for taking shelter after the attacks.
The militants first do the recce of route from the hideout to the target and navigate the route using the Alpine mobile application. According to sources, the app provides pinpoint details of the hilly areas even when out of the network zone. Significantly, 14 apps used by militants were banned in Jammu and Kashmir by the union Home ministry.
