Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 8: Police today arrested two accused who threw a grenade at Hari Singh High Street in Srinagar city two days ago in which 2 persons were killed and 36 others injured while a militant module was busted in Pulwama and three militant associates were arrested.
Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar, said that one of the accused Mohammad Bariq son of Mohammad Shafi Magrey of Koolipora, Khanyar was arrested from Khanyar, Srinagar. “His initial examination led to the arrest of second accused Fazil Nabi Sofi son of Ghulam Nabi Sofi of Koolipora, Khanyar”, he added.
He said that they came on a two-wheeler and fled on the same after carrying out the attack.
The IGP said that the duo had committed the militant act on the directions of active militants in Kashmir. “The plan was to attack the parked security vehicle but due to grenade throwing from a moving two-wheeler, the target was missed and grenade exploded in an adjacent crowded area where many road-side vendors and buyers were busy in routine works”, he said.
“It was also found that this particular area was chosen due to the omnipresent chaos and turbulent traffic in this stretch of area due to unorganised vendors and stalls on the road. There have been two other recent grenade attacks in this area on 10th Aug 2021 and on 25th January 2022. Further investigation is underway and is in full swing in this case, he added.
Srinagar Police requested all commercial establishments, shops to install CCTV cameras inside and outside of their shops and commercial establishments as per advisory issued by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar.
A police official said that the attack was carried out on March 6 on a security vehicle and this blast caused injuries to 38 persons including 36 civilians and 2 police personnel -Constable Reyaz Ahmed and SPO Jan Mohammad.
Two of the injured Aslam Makhdoomi, 79, son of Mohammad Amin of Nowhatta and Rafia Nazir, 18, daughter of Nazir Ahmad Tinda of Hazratbal later succumbed to the injuries.
Soon after the attack, SSP Srinagar Rakesh Balwal formed a SIT headed by Lakshay Sharma, SP South and consisting of Shabir Ahmed, SDPO Kothibagh, Fayaz Hussain, SDPO Shaheed Gunj, DySP Faizan Ali, DySP Anzar Shah, Gowhar Hussain SHO Shaheed Gunj and Inspector Taseer Ahmed as members.
“The SIT employed modern means of investigation and based on the technical evidences like minute frame by frame analysis of the CCTV footages of scene of crime, footages of CCTVs in the whole of Srinagar city, Cell Tower dump analysis, IP dump analysis, recreation of crime scene and by examination of some eye witnesses,” police said.
The SIT was able to identify two accused who came on a two-wheeler without number-plate threw a grenade and fled on the same vehicle. During the intense analysis of the CCTV trial in Srinagar city, the route adopted by both accused was located back to one neighbourhood in Khanyar area.
And in the meantime, security forces today busted a militant module and apprehended three militant associates.
Police said that acting on specific input, Pulwama Police along with 55RR and 182BN CRPF apprehended three militant associates linked with the LeT. They have been identified as Amir Nazir Hazar son of Nazir Ahmad Hazar, resident of Wagam, Suhail Ahmad Bhat son of Ab Rashid Bhat and Nasir Hussain son of Bashir Ahmad Ganie, both residents of Chinar Bagh Pulwama.
“Incriminating materials, including grenade and 13 rounds of AK 47 were recovered from their possession. During the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the arrested militant associates were acting as associates of Arif Hazar alias Rehan. Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Pulwama and further investigation is in progress”, police added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
