Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 26: A militant and eight associates, including two women and a juvenile, involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition were arrested in separate operations as security forces unearthed two militant modules in Baramulla district today.
Police today arrested one Lashkar-e-Toiba militant and five associates including two women and a juvenile.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Amog Nagpure told a news conference that police arrested a LeT militant and five associates of the outfit in Baramulla and recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition including grenades and pistols from them.
“The process of arrests started after two suspects were detained in September in Uri. The five terror associates arrested include two women and a juvenile as well,” he said.
Nagpure said that on September 21, Police in Baramulla through reliable sources came to know that one individual Yaseen Ahmad Shah son of Tariq Ahmad, resident of Janbazpora Baramulla is missing from his home and has joined proscribed terror outfit LeT/ TRF.
“Accordingly, a case under relevant Sections of law was registered in Police Station Baramulla and investigation was taken up. On receipt of this information, based on human/technical intelligence, a joint team of Baramulla Police, Army & CAPF during MVCP checking at Tapper Pattan apprehended the said terrorist on 22/09/2023,” he said, adding that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 1 pistol, 1 pistol magazine and 8 live rounds were recovered from his possession.
The SSP said that during questioning, he disclosed the name of his other associate Parvaiz Ahmad Shah son of Ali Mohammad resident of Takiya Wagoora. Accordingly, joint parties of Baramulla Police, Army & CAPF raided his residence and subsequently arrested him. Upon his disclosure, 2 hand grenades were also recovered from his possession,” the SSP said
He said on Sept 23 during the further course of interrogation of militant Mohammad Yaseen Shah and on his disclosure, 1 pistol, 1 pistol magazine and 8 live rounds were also recovered from his house at Janbazpora.
The SSP further said that he disclosed the names of his associates as Nigeena wife of Manzoor Ahmad Lone of Vijipora Hajin and Aafreena alias Aayat daughter of Gulzar Ahmad Ganie of Patpora Shalteng Srinagar and upon their disclosure, two hand grenades were recovered from their possession.
He said during questioning of Yaseen Ahmad Shah and Parvaiz Ahmad Shah on Sept 25, they disclosed the names of two more associates as Mudasir Ahmad Rather son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Rather of Takiya Wagoora and Showkat Ahmad Malik son of Habibullah Malik of Wagila Wagoora and upon their disclosure 1 Chinese grenade, 1 pistol, 1 pistol magazines and 8 live rounds were recovered respectively from their possession.
“Investigation has revealed that this terrorist along with his 5 associates were operating on the directions from Pakistan based handlers and were planning to recruit more terrorists and carry out terrorist activities in Baramulla and nearby areas,” he said, adding that the case under Sections of UA (P) & Arms Act stands registered in Police Station Baramulla and investigation is going on.
Earlier, on September 14, police during a joint naka checking at Paranpeelan Bridge Uri noticed two suspected persons who were coming from Dachi towards Paranpeelan Bridge and tried to flee while noticing the naka party but were apprehended tactfully.
“During their personal search, 2 Glock pistols, 4 pistol magazines, 2 pistol silencers, 5 Chinese grenades and 29 live pistol rounds from them and were taken into custody immediately who were later identified as Zaid Hassan Malla son of Ghulam Hassan Malla, resident of Mir Sahib Baramulla and Muhammad Arif Channa son of Nazir Ahmad Channa resident of Stadium Colony Baramulla,” the SSP said.
“Case under Indian Arms Act & UA (P) Act was registered in Police Station Uri and investigations was taken up. During the course of investigation they disclosed the name of their associate as Aftaar Ahmad Lohar son of Mohammad Maqbool Lohar of Surankote Poonch and was subsequently arrested in the instant case,” he said.
Asked whether involvement of females and juveniles in militant networks was a challenge, the SSP said that it wasn’t for the first time as earlier many females and juveniles were arrested for militant links.
“In this case, we have observed an arms supply racket running from Kashmir to Poonch. We are tracking links and routes used for supplying arms. More arrests are likely to be made. These attempts are being made to destabilise peace in the region,” he said, adding that the juvenile arrested will be tried in the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) under Juvenile Justice Act (JJA).
Police today arrested one suspect along with 3 pistols, besides three were summoned for questioning in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Police said that in a joint operation, following specific information, police and Army apprehended Azim Bashir Wani of Idgah Mohalla Beerwah and recovered three pistols along with other war-like stores from his possession.
“The investigation is underway and three additional suspects have been summoned for questioning,” read the statement.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
