Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: Police today arrested two more Kashmiri suspects—one from Ban Toll Plaza at Nagrota and another from Shopian taking total number of arrests in AK-47 rifle snatching of police constable to 3, while the main accused remained at large along with the rifle.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, SD Singh Jamwal told the Excelsior that one of the suspects was arrested this morning when he was trying to flee to Kashmir while another one was captured from Shopian.
“We are on the job to nab the main accused, who is absconding with AK-47 rifle of police constable,’’ Jamwal said, adding a high alert is being maintained throughout the region to nab the accused and recover the snatched weapon,’’ Jamwal, who was monitoring the search operation, said.
However, the Jammu Police chief said they were investigating motives of the suspects behind the weapon snatching from police constable. “Whether it was done with the intentions of committing a militant act or extortions is part of investigations,’’ he added.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that Shahid Ahmad son of Abdul Rashid Najar, a resident of Memender, Shopian was nabbed by the police from Ban Toll Plaza at Nagrota on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway this morning when he was fleeing from Jammu in a Tavera taxi car to Kashmir.
Another accused Mohammad Asif son of Mohammad Ali Shah R/o Shopian has been arrested by the cops from Shopian on a tip off given by Jammu Police to their counterparts in Shopian.
The main accused Amir Hussain son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat R/o Hallpora, Ratnipora, Shopian is absconding along with AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds. Fourth accused Masrool Ahmed son of Abdul Rashid R/o Ratnipora, Shopian was nabbed from the spot yesterday.
Two motor-cycles have been seized from the accused. They were bearing registration Nos. 6442 JK13B and 7273 JK02AH.
Police said three accused had reached Jammu three days back and spent this time in a house, at Bhatindi, which was in the neighbourhood of Amir Hussain’s house. Amir’s father had constructed a house at Bhatindi, where he along with his family used to stay during the winter.
“All three accused had reached here with the planning of weapon snatching. Mohammad Asif, who was captured from Shopian, was also part of the gang but hadn’t come here. Amir had conducted recce about movement of police constables in the months of December and January when he was staying at Bhatindi,’’ sources said, adding the two accused in police custody have disclosed that they picked up the spot of Tawi bridge as they had generally seen the constable moving towards Police Line on foot.
The accused executed the task last night when they found police constable Mohammad Hanief moving along at the start of Tawi bridge. They hit him with a bat and threw Chilli powder in his eyes.
Sources said while two accused were in front of the constable, one of them was behind him. This was part of their strategy to ensure that the constable was caught if he runs on either side. As two accused threw chilli powder in the eyes of constable, the powder also fell in the eyes of Masrool Ahmad, who was following the constable from behind.
Masrool was nabbed on spot while Amir Hussain and Shahid fled from the spot. Amir got separated with the weapon and was absconding while Shahid was arrested this morning.
Police said the CCTV footage of various cameras indicated that Amir Hussain had fled towards City South side on foot. All the accused had abandoned both the motor-cycles at the spot, which were later seized by the cops.
Police said two accused in the custody of police have disclosed that they wanted to snatch the weapon for the purpose of committing extortions in South Kashmir. They had planned to stay in Jammu after snatching the weapon and return to Kashmir after about a fortnight.
Both Amir Hussain and Mohammad Asif were listed stone pelters in South Kashmir and had even been running a group called ‘Sangbaaz’.
Meanwhile, police have registered a case in this connection at Nowabad police station for further investigations in the case.
SHO Nawabad Inspector Raghubir Singh Choudhary and Sub Inspector JP Singh were among those investigating the case under the supervision of senior officers of Jammu Police.
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