Crude bomb found in Jammu after drone attack at airport
The same day that twin explosions shook the Jammu Air Force Station, a crude bomb was found in the city, authorities said Sunday. An IED was reportedly seized from a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative. It had been planted at some crowded place. The two blasts at the airport have heightened security concerns as drones were used for the first time in an attack in India.
Jammu & Kashmir Police Chief Dilbagh Singh told NDTV on Sunday that the Jammu Police found a crude bomb from an LeT operative. Singh told the publication that 4kg of IED was recovered from the Narwal area of Jammu. Nadeem Ul Haq (22), a resident of Banihal, was arrested. Singh clarified this arrest is not linked to the Jammu airport blast.
Around 1:40 am on Sunday, two blasts took place at the Jammu air base. The blasts could be heard within a 2 km radius. One blast ripped a hole in the roof of the building's roof, while another explosion occurred in an open area. Two people were injured in the blasts that the news agency ANI identified as personnel of the IAF.
An FIR has reportedly been registered under the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which allows detention for up to six months without any evidence. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe. The IAF, the National Bomb Data Centre, and the J&K Police are also probing the attack. "Investigations are in progress along with civil agencies," the IAF tweeted.
Speaking to NDTV, officials said that the blasts at the IAF station have caused concern in security circles. The attack could be the first where drones were used, they said. Further, senior security officials said drones would present a major challenge for security forces in the area. Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed is suspected to be involved, an official told CNN-News18.
The blasts took place as Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh embarked on a three-day visit to neighboring Ladakh along with Army Chief General MM Naravane. The Defence Minister was scheduled to inaugurate infrastructural projects constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and interact with troops deployed in the region in view of a long-drawn border standoff with China.
