(PTI) Three Pakistan-based top militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba have set up high-altitude camps in Pir Panjal ranges to train cubs of the outfit in the use of improvised explosive devices to target VIPs, the army said today. A "secret arms training camp" was set up in Jadanwali area Rajouri district but the militants escaped into a thick forested area when Rashtriya Rifles troops raided the hideout, Military Intelligence officials said here.They said Abdul Sakib code-named Alfa one, Abdu Adil and Abu Baiday alais Noor gave a demonstration to a batch of around 15 militants on various facets of IEDs. "The militants are avoiding direct conflict with the army troops and police due to casualty figures among their cadres and considering their top leadership has been eliminated this year," the officials said.
The militant outfit had opted for increasing use of IEDs to target VIPs and security forces to inflict maximum casualties and take minimum risks, they added.