5 arrested for Deepu’s killing
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 16: Security forces foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) today and killed five foreign militants in Keran sector of Kupwara today.
Additional Director General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said here that a successful anti-terrorist operation was launched after a specific input generated by Kupwara Police today. He said that an infiltration bid by foreign militants was foiled in Jamgund Keran sector near LoC in Kupwara district by the joint team of Army and Police.
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The operation resulted in the neutralization of five heavily armed foreign militants. However, he didn’t disclose their identity.
“Acting on the credible intelligence input about infiltration by militants, joint party of Army and Police launched a swift and well-coordinated operation in Jamugund area near LoC of Kupwara. They were intercepted and engaged in a fierce gun battle, in which the joint party of Army and Police displayed exceptional courage and professionalism,” he said.
The encounter lasted for several hours, during which there was exchange of heavy gunfire, but the joint forces maintained utmost vigilance and perseverance which resulted in neutralisation of all five foreign militants.
The ADGP Kashmir said that the group was affiliated to Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) which has Rafiq Nai and Shamsher Nai alias Zafar Iqbal, both residents of Poonch presently settled in PoJK as handlers and Murtaza Pathan alias Ghaznvi of Faislabad, Pakistan, an Afghan war veteran affiliated with Deoband school of thought as operational commander supervising tactical aspect from PoJK.
“Arms and ammunition including 5 AK series rifles, 15 magazines, 10 hand grenades, 3 binoculars, 1 night vision device and 600 rounds of AK 47 have been recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation initiated.”
The ADGP Kashmir also appreciated the role of joint forces for neutralizing the militants without any collateral damage.
Kumar appreciated the joint teams for displaying highest degree of synergy and coordination which led to the elimination of five foreign militants and averted a big threat for forthcoming yatra.
Meanwhile, police arrested five Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants who were allegedly involved in the killing of a circus performer in South Kashmir last month.
Deepak Kumar alias Deepu, a circus performer and a resident of Udhampur was shot dead by militants on May 29 in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Announcing the arrest of five accused, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) south Kashmir Rayees Mohammad Bhat said, on May 29 evening, unknown gunmen on a scooty rode up to the amusement park near Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag and fired upon the labourer Deepak injuring him grievously. He was later shifted to GMC Anantnag where doctors declared him as brought dead.
The DIG said a case under relevant sections of law was registered and investigations were into motion during which a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted on May 30.
The investigations were held with the help of all possible technical, human and scientific evidence collected to nab the involved culprits.
He said two persons identified as Sehran Bashir Nadaf of Shirpora Deva Colony and Ubaid Nazir Laigroo of Shirpora New Colony were reported missing. The disappearance of these two persons situated in close proximity to the incident spot was also considered by the investigation team.
He said the technical and human data was analysed which led to reconstructing the sequence of events.
“Meanwhile police on June 6, at about 10.30 hours apprehended two suspected persons during checking at Semthan-Tulkhan Crossing. Their disclosure led to a major breakthrough in the case and the accused persons involved in the commission of the crime were identified,” the DIG said and added their disclosure coupled with the scientific and technical data analysis led to the recoveries of arms ammunition and the vehicle used in the commission of act”.
He said incriminating materials were recovered and seized in presence of the Executive Magistrate and two main accused persons associated with JeM/KFF outfit, who were involved in the commission of crime, were also arrested.
Further investigation of the case established the identities of more accused persons who had provided logistic support and had hatched a criminal conspiracy with the co-accused, he said.
“Subsequently three more accused were arrested by the police involved in this crime,” he added.
“It is pertinent to mention here that the accused persons were in contact with a JeM/KFF handler namely Khalid Kamran and the incident was carried out on his orders”, he said.
With the arrests and the recoveries made from them, he said, police solved the murder case as well as succeeded in averting major attacks which these accused had been “tasked to carry out by their handler across the border.”
Further investigations are underway and more revelations are expected, he said.
The accused have been identified as Sehran Bashir Nadaf, Ubaid Nazir Laigroo, Umer Amin Thoker of Waghama, Huzaif Shabir Bhat of Wachi Shopian and Nasir Farooq Shah of Wanteng Mohalla Bijbehara.
“One AK-47 rifle with magazine and 40 rounds besides two pistols and two magazines, seven rounds, as many empty cartridges, three hand grenades, seven mobile phones and the Scooty were also recovered,” he said.
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