Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 17: Former bodyguard of Pakistan based Hizbul Mujahideen supreme commander, Syed Salahudin was killed in grenade attack this afternoon when he was being taken in a police vehicle to North Kashmir’s Baramulla district Jail.
A police spokesman said here that a hand grenade was hurled at a police vehicle by militants which was passing through Batamaloo area today at about 12.30 p.m.
“The police vehicle was on way to Baramulla Sub-Jail to lodge a detainee, Shakeel Ahmad Kasana son of Abdul Rahim Kasana resident of Kral Khayan, Kangan in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal when the vehicle was attacked”, the spokesman said.
He said that four police constables and a civilian Ghulam Nabi Malik son of Mohammad Subhan Malik resident of Soibugh, Budgam received minor injuries, while Shakeel Ahmad Kasana was critically injured. “Kasana was referred to SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar for treatment, where he succumbed”, police spokesman said.
Kasana was being shifted to Baramulla district jail from Pantha Chowk police station.
He was booked under Section 7/25 of the Arms Act and was slapped with the Public Safety Act. Recently his PSA was quashed by court and he was rearrested and being shifted to Baramulla district Jail for detention.
Sources said that Kasana, who was bodyguard of Syed Salahudin, infiltrated into Kashmir valley from Pakistan last year with a Pashtun group of militants. He was arrested by police and detained under Public Safety Act (PSA).
The group headed by Asadullah, a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen is operating in Kangan area of Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal since it infiltrated into Kashmir last year.
Kasana was arrested by police when he was travelling as a civilian in South Kashmir last year.
Elsewhere, police busted a militant hideout in Budgam and Pulwama district and recovered arms and ammunition and two persons were arrested with grenades in Kupwara district while police recovered two AK-47 rifles from a gang that was planning an attack on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
A Police spokesman said that police and security forces recovered arms and ammunition during a search operation in Pakherpora area of Budgam.
The spokesman said that on a tip off a cordon and search operation was launched by police and security forces at Checki Karpora, Pakherpora, Budgam during which one AK-47 rifle, ten rounds of AK ammunition, six hand grenades and five UBGL grenades were recovered.
Police have registered a case (FIR number 61/2013, under Section 7/25 I.A Acts).
Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) busted a militant hideout at village Larmoo Tral, Awantipora and recovered large quantity of explosive material from the hideout. The recovered explosives include 75 kilogrammes of Neo Gel 901, 8 Detonator plates, 500 grams of RDX Powder, 3 Bottles of Potassium permagnate, 1 Bottle Aluminium fine powder and 16 Fuse Conductors.
Police said that in the frontier district of Kupwara, they arrested two persons at Sumo Stand, Kupwara and recovered two hand grenades from their possession.
“Abdul Rouf Badder son of Abdullah Badder and Zafar Iqbal Badder son of Sulaiman Badder residents of Amrohi Karnah were arrested by Kupwara police at Sumo Stand, Kupwara and during their search two hand grenades and some suspicious powder was recovered from their possession”, police said.
Meanwhile, Anantnag police claimed to have busted an extortionist gang in Dooru area who were planning to carry out an attack on the National Highway.
Police said that they reported movement of unknown individuals along with AK-47 rifles in Dooru area. “A manhunt was launched to apprehend them and on a specific information, Police assisted by 40th Battalion of CRPF, 9 RR intercepted a vehicle and nabbed one Mohammad Hussain Wani son of Mohammad Yousuf Wani resident of Khushipora Dialgam. During questioning, he admitted of possessing 2 AK-47 rifles along with his associates for extortion and militant activities”, police added.
Police said that on his disclosures Anantnag police arrested his associates, Mohammad Rafiq Wani resident of Nathipora Dooru, Imtiyaz Ahmad Banday resident of Arabal Dooru, and Bashir Ahmad Wani resident of Damhal Khushipora.
“Two AK-47 rifles, two magazines and 43 rounds were later recovered from the agricultural fields of Bashir Ahmad Wani”, police said.
Police said that a case FIR No. 56/2013 under Section 7/25 A. Act, 457,506 RPC 120B was registered in police station Dooru. “During further investigation it was revealed that Mohammad Rafiq Wani, and Imtiyaz Ahmad Banday were planning to execute a firing incident on National Highway between Qazigund and Mirbazar”, police added.
Police said that the module was being organized and handled by one Nawaz Ahmad Ahanger resident of Achabal who was a close associate of LeT Commander Ashraf Molvi of Rampora and Moosa alias Qari Banihal. “Nawaz Ahmad Ahanger along with one associate Mohammad Younis Bhat son of Mohammad Yousuf Bhat of Hardpora Achabal Anantnag arranged the weapon in 2010 to deliver it to Moosa but later, upon the killing of Ashraf Sheikh alias Molvi they could not execute their plans”, police said.
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