Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 30: Police have busted a militant module of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) who were tasked to disrupt Assembly elections in Srinagar city and are looking for more such modules operating in the city.
Police arrested three persons Mohammad Ganzafar Hajam Sajad Ahmad Dar son of Sanaullah Dar of Methan, Chanapora and Javid Rasool Bhat son of Ghulam Rasool Bhat of Nowgam and Mohammad Ganzafar Hajam in Srinagar over the last one week.
Police sources said that 10 pistols were recovered from their possession. “These pistols were brand new and were handed over to them by two Pakistani militants in South Kashmir district of Pulwama”, sources added.
Sources said that the three youth have told police that these pistols were handed over to them by some unknown LeT militants in September this year and were asked to wait for the further instructions for their distribution. “They were tasked by the LeT commanders to target election rallies and candidates in Srinagar during Assembly elections”, sources said.
Sources said that the trio told the police that there are few more militant modules in South Srinagar who have been tasked to target the election rallies. Police and other security agencies are looking for these modules. However, so far they have not succeeded in tracking them.
Sources told the police that these militant commanders met them in Pulwama and were communicating with them through cell phones. However, police could not reach out to these cell phones despite continuous monitoring of the SIM cards.
Sources said that 9 youth were detained and questioned by the police in their search for more modules. They also detained few released militants. However, all these youth and released militants were later released.
Security agencies say that the militants are desperate to target the election rallies in Kashmir valley after failing to create fear psychosis among voters in Parliamentary elections held in April and May this year. However, additional troops are being brought for election duty for the smooth conduct of elections.
To thwart any attempt to derailing peace in Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have asked for 520 additional companies of central para-military forces. These forces would be arriving to strengthen the security grid during the elections so as to prevent militants from targeting the elections.
The Chief Electoral Officer Jammu and Kashmir, Umang Narulla, today said that these companies are arriving for the smooth conduct of elections soon.
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