Srinagar, June 20 (KNO) : An internal investigations into the Anantnag suicide attack carried out by lone fidayeen on CRPF on June 12 , revealed that banned made-in-China steel bullets were used by the militants to cause severe damage to security forces personnel.
The probe into the attack has revealed that Jaish-e-Muhammad militants possess steel bullets to militants in Jammu and Kashmir to target security and defence personnel. “The purpose of using these bullets, which were made in China, is to pierce through the bullet proof jackets,” top sources told KNO.
“Investigating agencies believe that the terrorists used steel bullets in attacks carried out in Pulwama and Tral. Jaish-e-Mohammad has been using the same bullets in all major anti-India operations in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. The steel bullets can be used in AK 47 rifles and two to three of them can be kept in a magazine at once.
In an attack on December 27, 2017, the militants, affiliated to Jaish-e-Mohammad, had first used steel bullets. It was for the first time during this attack that the Indian forces had discovered this modus operandi of the terror operatives. Indian authorities consider this a serious issue. “Bullet-proof vehicles are used in cases of VIP security and with the issue of steel bullets or armed piercing bullets, the authorities feel the need to review all VIP security scenarios,” a top CRPF official told KNO, on the condition of anonymity.
They said that it was believed that steels bullets were provided to Jaish militants in Jammu and Kashmir by Jaish-e-Mohammad operative Noor Mohammad Tantre alias Peer Baba, who was killed in an encounter with Indian forces in December 2018.
Top CRPF officials admit that despite success by the security forces in tackling militancy, use of steel bullets have press a fresh alarm button some counter measures are set to be taken in the coming days.(KNO)