Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 16: Police in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district today busted a sleeper cell of Hizbul Mujahideen that was aiming to target some prominent persons having good rapport with security forces.
A police officer told Excelsior that Bandipora Police arrested four Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit and identified them as Muzamil Afzal Rather alias Boya son of Mohammad Afzal Rather, Firdous Ahmed Rather son of Abdul Rahim Rather, Bilal Ahmed Rather son of Mohammad Akber Rather all residents of Pazalpora and Abdul Majeed Khan son of Abdul Ahad Khan resident of Kralpora, Bandipora.
The officer said that they were planning to execute some sensational attacks in Bandipora area. He said that Muzamil and Afzal were desperate to join militancy and received weapon from one Bilal Ahmed, who had 6-7 months ago obtained it from one Abdul Majeed Khan of Kralpora in district Bandipora.
The officer said that Muzamil, Firdous and Bilal were hatching conspiracy to kill a few prominent persons from their adjoining areas who have good rapport with the security forces.
The officer said that Bilal arranged a pistol with ammunition and a hand grenade for Muza-mil alias Boya and Firdous. “Howev-er, due to prompt and timely action of police the nefarious terror plot hatched by these persons was foiled and all these persons were arrested and arms/ammunition recovered”, the officer said.
Police have registered a case (FIR No.03/2026 U/S 7/25 I A Act) in police Station Pethkote and further investigation are in progress.
This is the third militant module that was busted in North Kashmir during past one month. Earlier, a Harkat-ul-Mujahideen module was busted by police in Sopore area of North Kashmir and five of its members were arrested. Soon after a Jaish-e-Mohammad militant module was busted in Handwara area of North Kashmir and three members of it were arrested.
The two modules were tasked to carry out attacks on the security forces and political killings in their respective areas.
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