Security forces detained Pulwama bomber six times in less than two years

Kashmir: Adil Ahmad, the suicide bomber, who detonated bomb-laden car killing self and 40 CRPF personnel, wasn’t somebody unknown to security forces, according to a report in Mumbai Mirror.

He was detained six times between September 2016 and March 2018 on suspicion of aiding Pakistani terror group Laskhar-e-Taiba, the report says.

Adil, 20, hailing from Gundibagh village in Pulwama, had been “ person of considerable interest to security forces” as he had been held multiple times in less than two years.

However, he was neither formally charged with any crime nor, thus, entered any blotter of security forces.

The question now dangles before security agencies is whether ‘he fell off the radar because of an intelligence lapse’.

The report quoting an officer said, “Adil started working as an over-ground worker (OGW) for Lashkar in 2016, helping its militants who had sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir find a safe refuge and other support. He also acted as a go-between for Lashkar commanders and local youths who wanted to join their ranks”.

Earlier, Adil took part in protests following security operations killed militants in south Kashmir.

This radicalized youth had been trained by Omar Hafiz, Jaish Commander from Pakistan.

The report said that the original plan was to attack security forces convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on February 9. One Shabir had been tasked with the job.

As he had been killed in a security operation on January 26, Adil must have been emerged on the scene.