Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 6: After facing serious setback due to “Operation All Out” launched by security forces last year in which around 200 militants were killed, the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) today managed to get its top commander out in a bid to revive the outfit.
Naveed Jat, 22, alias Abu Hanzullah resident of Sahiwala, Multan Punjab in Pakistan who was arrested in 2014 from Kulgam district of South Kashmir, fled from police custody when he was taken to SMHS hospital in Srinagar this morning from Central Jail Srinagar for medical checkup.
Naveed along with five other jail inmates were taken to hospital for treatment this morning. Sources said that two militants handed him a pistol inside the hospital and in no time, he fired at the police guarding him, who were injured critically. The two militants and LeT commander took the advantage of panic that gripped the hospital and fled away.
The two cops, who were being treated in the SMHS hospital, later succumbed to injuries. They have been identified as Head-Constable Mushtaq Ahmad, resident of Dildar Karnah in Kupwara district and Constable Babar Ahmad Khan, resident of Shangus Achabal in Anantnag district.
SSP Srinagar, Imtiyaz Ismail Parray said that Naveed was brought from Central Jail Srinagar for medical checkup. He had a scuffle with escorting police party and suddenly two persons appeared and opened fire. In the incident, two policemen suffered injuries, who later succumbed.
Police and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police immediately laid a cordon and conducted searches in the area but the LeT commander and his associates had already fled.
An alert was sounded in Srinagar district to intensify the searches to trace out the fleeing inmate and his associates. However, no traces of the LeT commander and his associates were found.
Police procured CCTV footage and is trying to identify two other persons who helped Naveed escape. In the CCTV footage Naveed and his associates are being seen fleeing but so far their identity has not been established.
Naveed was arrested on June 21, 2014 in a joint operation by Kulgam Police, 62 Rashtriya Rifles of Army and 18th Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from a hideout in Sharmpora village of Kulgam district. He was district commander of LeT outfit for district Shopian and close associate of LeT chief Abu Qasim, killed in 2015.
Naveed was operating in South Kashmir since July 2012 and before this he was operating in Lolab. Kupwara for one year. He was involved in the killing of an ASI in Pulwama in 2013 and a CRPF man in Shopian besides snatching of two weapons from them, killing of two policemen near the District Court complex, Pulwama in 2014.
A Police officer, who interrogated him at the time of his arrest, told Excelsior that Naveed is mentally tough and was most dreaded militant when he was operating in South Kashmir. He said that the LeT was planning to get him out of Jail for last few months with an aim to rejuvenate the outfit.
The officer said that if not tackled immediately, Naveed has the potential to re-organise the LeT which has been shattered due to successful operations.
A Police officer said that the detenues, who beside Naveed were taken to SMHS hospital today include Seeratul Hassan, son of Mohammad Illyas, a resident of Malaratha Srinagar; Abdul Ahad Rather son of Abdul Gani, a resident of Tarzoo Sopore; Mohamad Khalil Najar, son of Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Goos Satapora, Arif Ahmad Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Parimpora Srinagar and Bashir Ahmad Salay, son of Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Baramulla. He said that one nursing orderly of Central Jail Srinagar accompanied the prisoners with medical records and 18 cops from District Police Lines Srinagar were escorting them.
Meanwhile, a Police spokesman said that wreath laying ceremony of Head-Constable Mushtaq Ahmad resident of Dildar Karnah and Constable Babar Ahmad Khan resident of Shangus Achabal was held at District Police Lines Srinagar.
“ADGP Muneer Ahmed Khan led the police officers in laying the floral wreaths on the mortal remains of the martyrs. DIG CKR Ghulam Hassan Bhat, DC Srinagar Syed Abid Hussain, SSP Srinagar Imtiaz Ismail Parray and other officers of Police/CRPF/SSB were present during the ceremony”, the spokesman said.
“Martyr Mushtaq Ahmad is survived by wife and an adopted minor daughter about 10 years old. Martyr Babar Ahmad Khan is survived by wife, two daughters (aged 3 and 2 years old), father, 4 brothers and one unmarried sister”, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Director General of Prisons S K Mishra today ordered an inquiry into the escape of dreaded militant.
Mishra said the inquiry will be limited to the Central Jail only to ascertain whether any prior information about Jat, movement to the hospital was leaked.
“The inquiry will be headed by a Deputy Inspector General-rank officer,” he said.
Mishra said the inquiry will also include questioning of other inmates as well as some Prison officials.
“We will give our detailed report to the Home department very soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has condemned the killing of two policemen at SMHS Hospital where they were carrying a detainee to medical check-up.
In her message, the Chief Minister described the incident as an act of cowardice which ought to be condemned by one and all.
Mehbooba has conveyed her sympathies with the bereaved families of the two cops.
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