A major in Pakistan’s notorious spy agency, ISI, is collaborating with the JeM brass for the “sensational attack”, sources in the intelligence establishment said. Accordingly, an alert has been issued to police in 30 “vulnerable” cities including Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, Jaipur, Gandhinagar, Kanpur and Lucknow

NEW DELHI: Jaish-e-Muhammed is readying a squad to target PM Narendra Modi and NSA Ajit Doval in retaliation to the defanging of Article 370 in J&K, sources in the intelligence establishment said. A major in Pakistan’s notorious spy agency, ISI, is collaborating with the JeM brass for the “sensational attack”, they added.

An input in this regard was conveyed by a foreign intelligence agency which intercepted communication between Pakistan-based JeM operative Shamsher Wani and his handler in the form of a handwritten note, an officer said. The input, accessed by TOI, spoke about plans for a big terror attack in September.

Accordingly, an alert has been issued to police in 30 “vulnerable” cities including Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, Jaipur, Gandhinagar, Kanpur and Lucknow.

Following the threats, security agencies have carried out a review of Doval’s security detail. A Z-plus protectee, Doval faces an unprecedented level of threat given his role in anti-terror operations, including the surgical strike inside Pakistan-controlled territory after the terror attack on an Army camp in Uri and the IAF’s bombing of one of the Jaish’s main terror camps in Balakot.

Jaish, which has been seething with anger because of elimination of its key operatives in J&K by Indian security forces, has vowed to avenge the losses and the humiliation it suffered in Balakot when the IAF’s jets bombarded the terror centre. The abrogation of special status for J&K on August 5 has whetted its resolve for, to quote senior intelligence sources, a “dramatic retaliation” by targeting high-value Indians.

JeM has been on an overdrive since August 5 trying to send Fidayeen, like the one who blew himself up in Pulwama in the attack on CRPF Jawans, from across the border to carry out strikes in India. Assisted by Pakistan army’s border action team (BAT), a big group of suicide bombers was spotted trying to sneak into India on the night of September 12-13 in Haji Pir sector of PoK. This bid was foiled by Indian security agencies.