New Delhi:
Was the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun a target of the terrorists? The arrest of Hizbul Mujahideen's top Jammu and Kashmir commander outside the prestigious military establishment on Friday night seems to be indicating in this direction.
What Nabi Sheikh alias Javed Qureshi and his associate Tanveer were doing there is not clear yet, but they were carrying a pistol and some ammunition.
Thirty three-year-old Javed has been active in the remote Doda district of J&K since 1993. He has 14 cases against him, including seven murders, two of which were policemen.
"He was one of those self-styled terrorist commanders who was wanted by us for a long time and with his arrest Doda areas has been rendered virtually free of top militants," said Kuldeep Khuda, Director General Police, J&K.
Tanveer has been in Dehradun, off and on, for five years working as a labourer for BSNL. Javed arrived in Dehradun a week ago and was staying with Tanvir.
Security forces in J&K have been constantly mounting pressure on militants, which is why they are running to other areas of the country. But it could also give them an opportunity to create networks and cause trouble elsewhere, something that the security agencies need to look into closely.