Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 21: Security in Srinagar has been put on high alert after a group of at least six militants who were travelling in a Sumo from Baba Reshi forest area to Pulwama slipped out of security check post near Narbal in the outskirts of Srinagar last night.
Sources said that a group of 5 highly armed militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) who had infiltrated from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) through Gulmarg sector recently were waiting for logistic support to travel to Pulwama from Baba Reshi forests.
They said that the militant group of 5 was received by one LeT militant, Ayub Lelhari, last evening and they started from Baba Reshi towards Pulwama in a Sumo bearing registration number JK13 last evening. Another vehicle, Tavera was also with them but there was no militant in it.
Sources said that the Tavera, that was an advance vehicle, was stopped by the police near Lawveypora where they had established a naka to trap the group. They said that after the Tavera was stopped the militants in the Sumo fled towards Bandipora. However, security forces got information this morning that the Sumo again came towards Srinagar but without the militant group.
Police and Army are on high alert along the National Highway and the routes that are leading towards Pulwama. In Srinagar city, police had established nakas at several locations and they were seen searching the suspected vehicles.
The driver of the Tavera and his associate have been detained and are lodged in police station Rajbagh. They are being questioned about the militant group and their destination.
In the meantime, a local court in the frontier district of Kupwara today remanded a top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant to 10 days of judicial remand. Militant Abu Ukasha alias Hanzullah was arrested at Sogam by a patrol party yesterday when he was purchasing some eatables for Iftar. Hanzullah was today produced before First Class Judicial Magistrate who remanded him for 10 days.
One hand grenade was recovered from his possession at the time of arrest. Later on his disclosure, one AK rifle, six magazines, 2 wireless sets, one pouch, 2 matrix sheets and dry fruits were recovered.
Abu Ukasha has told his interrogators that he was part of group of 5 that infilitrated from Macchil sector on June 5. Three of his associates are in Handwara and he along with his commander Abu Bakar were in Lolab.
A massive manhunt has been launched against Abu Bakar, who fled from the security cordon last night after he fired at security forces in the forest area.
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