Jaish, Lashkar and ISI planning major attack in Kashmir to disrupt Lok Sabha polls: Sources

Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Pakistan's ISI has collaborated with terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Laskhar to carry out a major terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir between April 5 and 9 to disrupt the polls, according to sources. The security agencies have issued an alert regarding this, asking security forces to remain extra vigilant during the election time.

The sources said that Pakistan is also involved in hatching the conspiracy and helping Jaish-e-Mohammed to carry out the attack in Kashmir. Notorious for its involvement in terror attacks in India, the Pakistani intelligence agency has made three groups with Jaish and Lashkar. Their plan is to target polling booths and Lok Sabha candidates in Jammu and Kashmir. The ISI has sent Jaish and Lashkar terrorists to Afghanistan, where they were trained to use the explosives.

The alert has come just seven days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The entire country, along with Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls in seven phases starting from April 11. In Jammu and Kashmir, elections will be held in the first five of the seven phases. While Baramulla and Jammu will go to polls on April 11, Srinagar, Udhampur will vote on April 18. Polling in Anantnag and Anantnag (Kulgam district) will be held on April 23 and April 29. Rest of the state, Anantnag (Shopian and Pulwama district) and Ladakh, will vote on May 6.

This development has come at a time when tensions are high between India and Pakistan - two nuclear-armed neighbours over February 14 Pulwama attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Indian Air Force's strike in Balakot. The countries even came at the brink of a full-fledged war in February as after India's air strike, Pakistan also target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir.