Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 10: For the first time, a non-local militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), hailing from Uttar Pradesh (UP), and involved in dozens of militant activities including killing of a police officer was arrested by police from Anantnag district.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Range, Muneer Ahmad Khan told a news conference here that police arrested Sandeep Kumar Sharma, resident of Muzaffarnagar, UP, associated with LeT during an operation. He said that Kumar was close aide of Bashir Lashkari, responsible for the killing of six police personnel, including Station House Officer (SHO) Feroz Ahmad in Anantnag last month and was present in the house at Dailgam where Lashkari was killed on July 1 and was rescued by the security forces and detained.
Sharma was involved in a number of attacks on security forces, besides planned bank robbery, the IGP said, adding that he robbed four banks and shared the booty with the LeT members. “Sandeep helped the LeT militants to loot ATMs while they also indulged in immoral activities in the villages,” he said.
The IGP said Sharma had come to Kashmir valley in 2012 and was working as a welder. However, he came into contact with Shahid Ahmad before joining the LeT.
He said that besides Sandeep Kumar alias Adil, son of Ram Sharma, a resident of Muzaffarnagar area of Uttar Pradesh, Muneeb Shah of Kulgam was also arrested. “Sandeep was a criminal, he got in touch with Lashkar through one Shakoor of Sopore,” he said.
Khan said that Sandeep has been found in several militant activities including attack on Army convoy at Lower Munda Qazigund (NHW) on 03.06.2017 near Lower Munda opposite Tool Post Qazigund, weapon snatching incident at Guard posted at residence of Justice Attar’s Anchidoora on 13.06.2017 and attack on Police Party of Achabal on 16.06.2017 at Thajiwara Achabal in which six police personnel got killed.
The IGP said that he and his associates were also involved in looting of ATMs on 18/19-01-2017 at Momin Abad Ashajipora, on 20/21-04-2017 at K.P Road G.B Stand Anantnag, on 22./23-05-2017 at Larkipra SBI ATM, on 30/31-05-2017 at Achabal Adda (SBI ATM) and on 17/18.06.2017 at Zirpora Bijbehara (SBI ATM).
Khan said that the module in pursuance of the bank robberies which started in January 2017, Sharma and some of his associates (Valley based) came from Patiala to Kashmir for carrying out criminal activities. “The group stayed at Wanpoh and soon got involved in different kinds of robberies including ATM looting in South Kashmir. In these crimes, they worked in conjunction with LeT in South Kashmir”, he added.
He said that Sharma alongwith some other associates were arrested at PP Mir Bazar in a robbery case sometime in March 2017 and remained in judicial custody until bailed out.
The IGP said that Sharma joined Bashir Lashkari of LeT and worked as key aid. “Sharma used his old acquaintances and came in touch with a family at Brinty Dialgam. With the active pursuance of his associates he became part of the Over Ground Worker for LeT”, he said.
“Sandeep revealed that he alongwith other individuals hatched a criminal conspiracy leading to providing shelter, ferrying of terrorists from one place to other for terror strikes and actively participating in terrorist activities”, Khan said.
“At present investigation is in progress and he has been arrested. On the directions of LeT he alongwith his associates received LeT terrorists and dropped them at different sites for the terror action in South Kashmir. He also concealed weapons looted from Police guards in a vehicle and shifted them to different locations on the directions of LeT”, the IGP said.
“Investigation is going on for ascertaining the roles of his other associates in the crimes. Investigation so far conducted has revealed that LeT in league with criminal network is raising money by looting banks especially ATMs in South Kashmir Range, besides using these networks to further terrorist activities”, Khan said.
The IGP said that UP Police has been alerted and “we are trying to get more information about his background”.
UNI adds from Lucknow
A team of the Uttar Pradesh Police Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) rushed to Jammu and Kashmir to interrogate Sandeep Kumar Sharma alias Adil, an LeT suspected arrested in Kashmir valley today.
Inspector General of Police (IG) ATS Assembly Arun said here that a team of UP ATS have rushed to Kashmir after hearing the news about the arrest of Sandeep, a native of Muzaffarnagar district.
Arun said a separate team has also been rushed to Muzaffarnagar to get details about the accused.
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