Baramulla: Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested one Lashkar-e-Toiba militant and five militant associates including two women.
One among the arrested persons includes a juvenile as well.
Addressing a press conference at Baramulla, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Barmulla Amog Nagpure said that on police have arrested active LeT militant and five associates in Baramulla and recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition including grenades and pistols from them.
“The process of arrests started after two suspects were detained on September in Uri. The five militant associates arrested include two women and a juvenile as well,” he said.
The SSP said that on September 21, Police in Baramulla through reliable sources came to know that one individual namely Yaseen Ahmad Shah son of Tariq Ahmad resident of Janbazpora Baramulla is missing from his home and has joined proscribed militant outfit LeT/ TRF.
“Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law was registered in Police Station Baramulla and investigation was taken up. On receipt of this information, based on human/technical intelligence, a joint team of Baramulla Police, Army and CAPF during MVCP checking at Tapper Pattan apprehended the said militant on 22/09/2023,” he said, adding that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 1 Pistol, 1 Pistol Magazine and 8 live rounds were recovered from his possession.
“During questioning, he disclosed the name of his other associate Parvaiz Ahmad Shah, son of Ali Mohd resident of Takiya Wagoora. Accordingly, joint parties of Baramulla Police, Army and CAPF raided his residence and subsequently arrested him. Upon his disclosure, two hand grenades were also recovered from his possession,” the SSP said.
The SSP added “On 23, 9, 2023, during the further course of interrogation of militant Mohd Yaseen Shah and on his disclosure, 1 Pistol, 1 Pistol Magazine & and live rounds were also recovered from his house at Janbazpora.”
The SSP further said that he disclosed the names of his associates as Nigeena, wife of Manzoor Ahmad Lone, a resident Vijipora Hajin and Aafreena alias Aayat. daughter of Gulzar Ahmad Ganie, a residenr of Patpora Shalteng Srinagar and upon their disclosure two hand grenades were recovered from their possession.
On 25/09/2023, during questioning Yaseen Ahmad Shah and Parvaiz Ahmad Shah disclosed the names of two more associates as Mudasir Ahmad Rather, son of Gh Mohiuddin Rather of Takiya Wagoora and Showkat Ahmad Malik. son of Habibullah Malik of Wagila Wagoora and upon their disclosure 1 Chinese Grenade, 1 Pistol, 1 Pistol Magazines and 8 live rounds were recovered respectively from their possession.
Investigation has revealed that this militant along with his 5 associates were operating on the directions from Pakistan based handlers and were planning to recruit more militants and carry out activities in Baramulla and nearby areas, he said, adding that the case under sections of UA (P) and Arms Act stands registered in Police Station Baramulla and investigation is going on.
Earlier, on September 14, police during a joint naka checking at Paranpeelan Bridge Uri noticed two suspected persons who were coming from Dachi towards Paranpeelan Bridge and tried to flee while noticing the naka party but were apprehended tactfully.
“During their personal search, 2 Glock Pistols, 4 Pistol Magazines, 2 Pistol Silencers, 5 Chinese grenades and 29 live Pistol rround were recovered from them and were taken into custody immediately. They were later identified as Zaid Hassan Malla, son of Ghulam Hassan Malla, a resident of Mir sahib Baramulla and Muhammad Arif Channa, son of Nazir Ahmad Channa, a resident of Stadium Colony Baramulla,” the SSP said, adding that it is pertinent to mention here that they were involved in cross border smuggling of arms and ammunition at the behest of Pakistan based handlers and its further distribution to LeT carrying out terror activities.
“Case under Indian Arms Act & UA (P) Act was registered in Police Station Uri and investigations was taken up. During the course of investigation they disclosed the name of their associate as Aftaar Ahmad Lohar, son of Mohd Maqbool Lohar of Surankote Poonch and was subsequently arrested in the instant case,” he said.
Asked whether involvement of females and juveniles in militant networks was a challenge, the SSP said that it wasn’t for the first time as earlier many females and juveniles were arrested for militancy links.
“In this case, we have observed an arms supply racket runs from Kashmir to Poonch. We are tracking links and routes used for supplying arms. More arrests are likely to be made. These attempts are being made to destabilise peace in the region,” he said, adding that the juvenile arrested will be tried in the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) under Juvenile Justice Act (JJA).(KNO)
