OGWs facilitating intrusions, arranging shelter, food
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 19: With a view to target support base system of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in the region, the National Investigation Agency today conducted searches at 12 locations across Jammu, including premises of terrorist sympathisers.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The raids were part of ongoing probe by the NIA into infiltration of terrorists and support provided to them by the OGWs in facilitating intrusions and arranging shelter, food and other essentials for them.
The suspected OGWs whose houses/premises were searched by the NIA teams today include Mohammad Maqbool Ahmed, 35, son of Noor Ahmed R/o Dabbar Mohalla, Sidhra, Mushtaq Ahmed son of Mohammad Yousaf of Asrarabad, Sidhra, Sajjad Ahmed Khattana son of Afra Syab Khattana, a resident of Kokernag, Anantnag, presently putting up at Asrarabad, Sidhra, Mohammad Younis Bhatti son of Noor Mohammad R/o Hajj Gali, Nagrota, Abdul Majeed alias Shama son of Mohammad Hussain of Talab Khatikan, Bashir Ahmed R/o Malik Market, Bathindi, Mohammad Saleem son of Abdul Kareem of Arnas, Reasi, presently putting up at Bathindi, Assad Ullah alias Neetu son of Mohammad Shaffi of Nowabad Sunjwan, Abdul Karim son of Bashir Ahmed R/o Landhar Panchairi, Udhampur, presently residing at Belicharana and Abdul Rashid Wani alias Nanna Ji son of Mohammad Qasim Wani of Malpura Wanpoh, Kulgam, at present residing at Roop Nagar.
A statement issued by the NIA this evening after the raids said the OGWs whose houses were raided belonged to newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfits.
The infiltration case is linked to the series of attacks carried out by terrorists on security forces and civilians some months ago as part of a larger criminal conspiracy by terror organisations to wage a war against the Government of India, said the statement.
A total of 12 locations in Jammu district were searched as part of the operation, and several incriminatory materials linking the terrorists with OGWs were seized, it said, adding that the NIA teams are examining them to unravel the terror conspiracy.
“Premises of sympathizers and cadres of these outfits were also searched as part of the action taken by the anti-terror agency in the case,” the NIA said.
The action followed information received by the NIA regarding infiltration of LeT and JeM terrorists into India through the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC).
Reports suggested that the terrorists were facilitated by OGWs and terror associates living in border areas. Besides providing logistical support, food, shelter and money, the suspects were involved in guiding the terrorists through the difficult terrains of Jammu province to ensure their safe passage, the probe agency said.
The terrorists were then believed to have made their way to the hinterland districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, and also to the Kashmir valley, it added.
There have been reports that the OGWs have also been arranging food and other essential items for the terrorists.
Reports suggest that some foreign terrorists could be hiding in the upper reaches of Kathua, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Doda, Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch districts. However, it is not possible for them to survive without local support especially in terms of food and other daily requirements.
During recent past, police have also launched major crackdown on support base of the terrorists and nabbed a number of OGWs and booked them under various sections of law including the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Follow our WhatsApp channel
