From pistols to sophisticated weapons with the latest equipment, terrorists in J&K are now using more lethal weapons

Latest update:Oct 29, 2024, 11:21 am IST

The security system suspects that these weapons, which include ballistic calculators, rangefinders, night vision devices and possibly weapons-mounted cameras, were purchased from Afghanistan.

A CCTV image shows a suspected terrorist in Sunday’s attack that killed seven people, including a doctor, in J&K’s Ganderbal. (PTI)

Terrorists attacking Kashmir in a new wave of violence are now equipped with high-tech gadgets and gadgets, making their weapons more lethal, security forces and central agencies have revealed.

According to sources, terrorists involved in recent attacks on the army and civilians have weapons including ballistic calculators, rangefinders, night vision devices and possibly weapon-mounted cameras.

A senior official involved in operations in J&K said that in recent firing incidents, terrorists have been able to shoot their targets with greater accuracy even from a considerable distance. “The M4 guns were found to be equipped with thermal imaging sights with high definition video, Wi-Fi capabilities, GPS, image stabilization and rangefinders. Also, based on records and photographs available to security forces and intelligence agencies, these guns are likely to have ballistic calculators and may include cameras mounted on the weapons to record firing incidents,” an official told News18.

These nozzles help terrorists gather terrain details and effectively hit targets even in low light. Sources indicate that terrorists have also started using M4 rifles with multiple attachments. CCTV footage taken during the attack near the under-construction Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway shows terrorists using M4 rifles. Seven men — six from outside Kashmir and a local doctor — were killed in the Z Morh tunnel attack.

In July, it was reported that the terrorists were using M4 rifles capable of effective fire at distances of 500-600 meters with a much greater maximum range.

“Until last year, terrorists mainly used pistols, while the higher command preferred AK series rifles. However, during an operation in June, security forces discovered Steyr AUG rifles used by the Austrian armed forces. This weapon is more reliable and accurate than others. The increasing use of M4 rifles with heavy muzzles indicates that terrorist organizations have acquired lethal weapons to use against India,” a senior CRPF official told News18.

The security network suspects that these weapons were purchased from Afghanistan and have not yet been distributed to the ground commanders of the terrorist units.

On Tuesday, all three terrorists who engaged in firing on an army convoy passing through a village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor sector on Monday were killed in an anti-terror operation.

One of the three terrorists who fired on an army ambulance, which was part of a convoy moving near the LoC, was killed before evening in an operation launched by special forces and NSG commandos.

The army pressed its four BMP-II infantry fighting vehicles to monitor and strengthen the cordon around the firing site, while helicopters and drones were deployed to locate the hiding terrorists.

Arrangement:

Jammu and Kashmir, India