Security lapses despite specific intel led to Uri attack: investigators

New Delhi: Even as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into the Uri terror attack, reports have emerged that security lapses despite specific intelligence may have enabled Pakistan-backed terrorists to cross the border and kill 18 soldiers on Sunday.

Jammu and Kashmir police have formally registered a case under different sections of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) while the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team inspected the encounter site at Uri on Monday. Indian Army too has instituted a court of enquiry to probe the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers of six Bihar and 10 Dogra units.

According to a report in dna, Intelligence inputs about the possible terror attacks were provided some days ago and accordingly shared with the forces on ground.

But the manner in which terrorists could breach the LoC and three tier counter infiltration security system is what has baffled investigators. Security lapses have thus been indicated.

The concerns are multifaceted. Firstly, it is unknown how confidential information about the change of guard leaked to the terrorists - the 10 Dogra unit, which had served in the area for two and half years, was leaving for Pathankot for new posting and six Bihar unit was replacing them in Uri. Secondly, militants knew that the new unit was camping in the tents on the rare side of the headquarters. Thirdly, militants managed to storm the camp from the rear side where there was less protection.

The militants might have crossed the Mike Post on the LoC in Uri sector and maneuvered though ravines, gorges and dense forests to attack the camp, suspect investigators.

Security forces failed to pick up the leads from the foiled fidayeen attack in Poonch on September 11, in which four militants and a policeman were killed and six others including three army men were injured while two hostages were rescued, said the report.

The militants in Poonch were part of the fidayeen squad and they were doing the reconnaissance for the attack when security forces spotted them, but this point was missed by the Indian army.

Uri and Poonch is connected through the Haji Pir pass on the LoC and the trekking distance between the two areas is less, said the report.