Motivated several youth abroad to join militancy
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: Police today arrested top militant of JK Gazanavi Force soon after he landed at Jammu Airport from Kuwait via Mumbai to further spread network of his outfit in Poonch district where he had already recruited many militants.
Police was keeping track on militant Sher Ali, a resident of Dhargloon in Mendhar area of Poonch district as his name had surfaced in motivating youth of twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri to join militancy, who had gone for work in Kuwait.
“Sher Ali was, in fact, running the terror network from Kuwait,” police said.
Poonch police teams led by SSP Ramesh Angral had developed specific information that Sher Ali is returning to Poonch to motivate more local youth to join Gazanavi Force.
He reached Mumbai from Kuwait this morning. He boarded Jammu-bound flight at Mumbai at 11.30 am, sources said, adding he was allowed to reach Jammu as it was confirmed that he wasn’t carrying arms and ammunition with him which could have been dangerous on board the flight.
As he landed at Jammu Airport, a Poonch Police team already waiting there overpowered him and took him for sustained interrogation.
Unconfirmed reports, however, said that the militant has been deported from Kuwait.
Mushtaq Ahmad and Raskeem Akhter, father and sister of Sher Ali, are already under arrest for their involvement in militant activities.
“Sher Ali is the main coordinator and facilitator of militant activities of various terror groups involving facilitating infiltration, smuggling of arms and ammunition and narcotics from PoJK to Indian territory from Balakote area of Poonch district.
He has been arrested in connection with case FIR No. 292/2020 already registered at Mendhar police station. He is also involved in many other cases of district Poonch.
Sitting abroad, Sher Ali was involved in sending two Pakistan militants from Dabbi area of Balakote sector on the intervening night of 24th and 25th November 2020 at the behest of Pakistani handler named Sultan.
The two militants of JK Gazanavi force were later killed in an encounter on 13th of December last year in Poshana area of Surankote.
Sher Ali also smuggled arms and ammunition which included three pistols and one IED besides other ammunition through Balakote sector in Mendhar. The receiver of these arms and ammunition namely Mushtaq Ahmed (father of Sher Ali) and Raskeem Akhter (sister of Sher Ali) were arrested by Poonch Police on 11-9-2020 and FIR was registered at P/S Mendhar in this regard.
So far five OGWs involved in terror network led by Sher Ali have been arrested. They include Mustafa of Kandi Galuta, Mohammad Yaseen of Dabbi Balakote, Younis, Irfan and Raskeem.
Sher Ali was also involved in drug smuggling along with arms and ammunitions and two kilograms heroine worth approximately Rs 8 crores in the international market were also recovered from his terror network which was meant to be used for terror financing.
So far from this network, police have recovered five pistols, 13 grenades and one live IED. Further investigation is in progress.
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