The security forces are on high alert against possible sniper attacks by terrorists in Kashmir
Highlights
- Terrorists could be using advanced night-vision glasses, say police
- Snipers also pose a high threat to VIPs in the valley, sources said
- Inspector General of Police writes to police headquarters about threat
The security forces and their intelligence units in Jammu and Kashmir suspect that a few highly skilled terrorist snipers could be active in the Valley, after an Army soldier and two paramilitary personnel were killed in long-range stealth attacks this week.
Terrorist snipers who can hide at a single spot undetected for a long time and withdraw after making a kill could also pose a high threat to VIPs in the valley, sources said.
On Saturday, an assistant sub-inspector of the CISF, Rajendra Prasad, was killed by what the security forces say a "sniper-type" attack on the outskirts of Srinagar. A paramilitary soldier was killed in another suspected sniper attack on October 22, and an Army soldier was killed three days later in a long-range gun attack at Tral.
People with direct knowledge of the matter said the terrorists could be using advanced night-vision glasses or NVGs to hide in the dark and snipe at security forces from a distance. This type of sniper attack allows them to run away the moment security forces start looking for them.
A senior police officer said they are not ruling out the possibility of terrorists using American M6 rifles in these attacks. "Terrorists could be mounting NVGs on these rifles to carry out attacks at night," said the officer, who asked not to be identified.
The Inspector General of Police has also written to the police headquarters to draw their attention to the threat from snipers. Though all VIP vehicles are armoured and well protected, countering the threat of snipers is a challenge, sources said.