Jammu, Apr 16-Misuse of identity cards of various political parties has been cited as a major risk by security forces engaged in fighting the militants but despite the deep concern nothing has been done in this regard.
However, lax government attitude as well the negligence of some political parties allowed the militants to plan a major assault, which could result in an attack on none other than the Chief Minister of the state during a rally at Ramban.
In a startling revelation, it has been revealed that the accused Farooq Ahmed and his wife, who had been tasked to take a LeT Fidayeen near the stage where CM was to address the rally had managed to enter the venue with the help of a fake I-card.
The identity card appears to be issued by Vikar Rasool, vice president, J&K Pradesh Youth Congress and president, Banihal Municipal Committee as it carries his seal and signature.
In order to give the I-card an authentic look, photographs of CM Ghulam Nabi Azad and Sonia Gandhi has been pasted on the top.
According to security agencies, it is with the help of these identity cards the militants, particularly the over ground workers operate in their clandestine activities freely.
They further reveal that another fake card had been issued to Divisional commander of a terror outfit namely Abdul Hameed son of Subhan Naik resident of Thachi, Banihal code named Ashaq under the fictitious name of Mohd Sharief son of Mohd Abdullah Naik resident of Gangana, Banihal under card no 389/BYCC showing designation as active worker.
This divisional commander was killed in an encounter between militants and security forces on October 21 at Khari Banihal. During the search of the militant the fake identity card was recovered from his body.
Sources have revealed that hundreds of such fake identity card are floating in the militant infested areas and they are also being used by one and all.
While civilians use them to throw weight with the security forces and administration by flaunting their contacts, the militants and over ground workers use the same to escape identification and for free movement.
Meanwhile, vehicular movement on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was disrupted for more than an hour as people hold a strong protest at Banihal town of Ramban district against the arrest of four persons by Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The arrests were made by police last week claiming that the accused, including a couple, were part of a conspiracy hatched by Lashker-e-Toiba militants to attack chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during a public rally at Ramban town. Police had claimed to have foiled plot to target a joint public rally of Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad and Agriculture Minister and PDP legislative party leader, Abdul Aziz Zargar at Ramban on April 12 and arrested four persons including a couple - Farooq and his wife Haseena - in this connection.