Foiled Pulwama-like attack: Car owner identified as Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist

J&K Police identifies Hidayatullah Malik, owner of the explosives-laden car which was intercepted in Pulwama. He is a resident of Shopian and joined Hizbul Mujahideen last year, the police said.

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday averted a 2019 Pulwama-type attack when they chased and seized a car laden with about 45 kg of explosives in the south Kashmir district, officials said.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Vijay Kumar told reporters there were intelligence inputs about plans of banned Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed terror groups to repeat an attack similar to last year’s February 14 strike on a Central Reserve Police Force convoy that left 40 personnel dead.

“The police had intelligence inputs for past one week that Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists had plans to launch a big strike using a suicide bomber and car bomb to target security forces,” he said.