Ayodhya, Panipat Refinery were likely targets
Were planning motor cycle IED attack
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 14: In a major success on the eve of Independence Day celebrations, Jammu Police has arrested four top militants of Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) outfit including three hailing from South Kashmir and one from Uttar Pradesh whose targets include Ram Janambhoomi at Ayodhya, Panipat Oil Refinery in Haryana and transporting arms and explosives dropped or yet to be dropped by Pakistan in Amritsar and other places.
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One of the militants had to plant motorcycle IED in Jammu on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations tomorrow and a major catastrophe has been averted with his arrest. All four Jaish militants were in touch with their Pakistan and Kashmir based commanders.
Additional DGP Jammu Mukesh Singh said four Jaish-e-Mohammed militants and their associates were arrested by Jammu Police during their drive to root out terrorist presence in the region when they were planning collection of arms dropped by drones and supply them to different places.
“Arms, ammunition and explosives have been recovered from the possession of arrested militants,” the ADGP said, adding further investigations could lead to more arrests and recoveries.
DIG Jammu-Kathua Range Atul Goel and SSP Jammu Chandan Kohli supervised the operation in which four militants were nabbed.
Arrested militants have been identified as Ijahar Khan alias Sonu Khan son of Intejar Khan, a resident of Mirdan Mohalla in Kandala Shamli area of Uttar Pradesh, Muntazir Manzoor alias Saifullah son of Manzoor Ahmed Bhat R/o Prichoo Pulwama, Touseef Ahmed alias Showket alias Adnan son of Ghulam Mohammad Shah, a resident of Jeff, Shopian and Jahangir Hussain Bhat son of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat R/o Bandzoo, Pulwama.
Police officials said Ijahar Khan alias Sonu Khan of Uttar Pradesh has confessed during questioning that Pakistan-based Jaish commander Munazir alias Shahid has asked him to collect weapons from near Amritsar which would be dropped by a drone. However, one of the consignments of weapons was recovered by Punjab Police before it could fall into the hands of the militants.
Ijahar had also been tasked to do reconnaissance of Panipat Oil Refinery in Haryana which he did and sent videos to Pakistan. He had again been asked by the same Jaish commander for recce of Ram Janambhoomi in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh but he couldn’t do so as he was arrested by Jammu Police before he could accomplish the task.
The officials said Muntazir Manzoor alias Saifullah of Pulwama was the first to be arrested in the chain of four militants. From his possession, police recovered one pistol, one magazine, eight live rounds and two Chinese hand grenades.
He used to transport weapons to Kashmir from the border areas of Jammu after they were dropped by Pakistan using drones. Truck used in transportation of arms has been seized.
Touseef Ahmad Shah alias Showket alias Adnan of Jeff Shopian was in touch with another Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Shahid and Jaish militant Abrar in Pakistan. The Jaish militants had asked him to take up accommodation on rent in Jammu which he did. Again, he was asked to procure a second hand motorcycle for causing an IED blast at Jammu.
“The Improvised Explosive Device to trigger terror attack had to be dropped by a drone. However, police arrested Touseef before he could lay hands on the IED and execute terror attack,” the officials said.
Jahangir Ahmad Bhat of Bandzoo Pulwama was a fruit merchant and was in touch with Jaish commander Shahid in Pakistan.
In fact, as per the officials, it was Jahangir Bhat who had introduced Uttar Pradesh militant with Ijahgar Khan. He was engaged in recruitment of Jaish militants in Kashmir and rest of the country.
According to the officials, further questioning and cross-examination of all four militants is on and some more vital clues are expected.
Meanwhile, an explosive device was detected by security forces in Kishtwar district today, averting a major tragedy, officials said.
The explosive device was found during patrolling by security forces in the Kariya belt of the district, they said.
A Bomb Disposal Squad was called and the device was defused safely, the officials said
During past about one week, Kishtwar Police has arrested three fresh recruits of Hizbul Mujahideen along with arms, ammunition and explosives.
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