The intelligence agency (IB) and others put local security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on alert for the risk of an attack on tourists, but during the Prime Minister’s planned visit to the union territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir on April 19, and in Srinagar, said individuals privy to the development.
HT reports that in retaliation, security was increased in and around Srinagar, including close to some hotels used by tourists, and also around tourist spots like the Dachigam National Park, 22 km from the city.
Attack in Pahalgam After PM’s Visit Cancelled
But the PM Narendra Modi’s visit was cancelled on account of bad weather, and when the terrorists struck, killing 26 people, all men, including 25 tourists, 24 of whom were Hindus in a targeted attack, it was in Pahalgam, 90 km away from Srinagar, and on April 22.
“Nine out of ten times they don’t come to anything but this one proved correct about tourists. The interpretation, which is the trickiest part, got the location wrong,’’ said a senior police officer, confirming that both Army and civilian security officials in Jammu and Kashmir were told to prepare for an attack around the Prime Minister’s visit, at a tourist location near Srinagar.
Weather Forecast Prompted Cancellation of Visit
Four days prior to the PM’s visit, noticing the meteorogical departhment’s forecast of poor weather around April 18-19, the Prime Minister’s Office called off the visit. The PM would have had to travel by chopper to approximately three sectors and poor weather would have ruined all his plans. Even after calling it off, security officials didn’t let their guard and preparedness down.
Security Monitoring Continued Despite Cancellation
Director general of police Nalin Prabhat remained posted in Srinagar for four days, monitoring all spots surrounding Srinagar. On April 22, when the terrorists attacked, Prabhat had arrived in Jammu and had to immediately return. Prabhat remained silent on a request for comment.
Indeed, all officials interviewed confirmed that there was no reference to Pahalgam in any of the intelligence inputs received by them.
Terrorists May Have Reacted to Visit Cancellation
With hindsight, they further explained that now it is evident that once the PM’s visit had been cancelled, the terrorists went into hiding and were waiting for the next moment. They didn’t wait long. Just a day after the cancellation, the visit of US vice president JD Vance which has been understood to be in the pipeline for some time was announced in a statement on April 16.
Failure to Predict Attack in Baisaran
The lapse, officials point out, was the inability to anticipate an attack in Baisaran, which is open throughout the year and only closed during the Amarnath Yatra. “The two local men among the terrorists were the ones who corralled the tourists to one side,’’ one of the officials said. “The shots were fired by the two foreign men. Because there was only one entry and exit controlled by the tickets, that made it difficult for the tourists to escape the attackers.”
As it is now clear that the terrorists were residing there and are still present in the vicinity, the largest blunder was of the local intelligence, the officials added.
