Arms cache seized from OGW network in Pulwama’s Nehama village

SRINAGAR — A spokesman of Pulwama Police on Monday said that an arms cache was seized from over-ground worker (OGW) network of slain militants in Pulwama district’s Nehama village.

The statement said that acting upon specific input about the presence of two militants namely Reyaz Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Aziz Dar and a resident of Sethergund and Rayees Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Mohideen Dar and a resident of Larve, in Nehama village, a joint cordon and search was launched by police force along with army and CRPF on June 2 and 3. During the search, the spokesman said, two militants fired upon the security forces, triggering the gunfight.

The police spokesman said that during the operation, Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Reyaz Dar and his associate Rayees Dar, both A-category militants, were neutralized by the security forces. “During the search, a huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered including AK-47 rifles, AK-47 rounds, pistols, etc, and other incriminating materials. In this regard case, FIR No. 20/24 under sections 307 of IPC, 7/27 of Arms Act, 16, 18, 19, 20, 38 of UAPA was registered in Police Station Kakapora.”

During the investigation, police said, it was revealed that the militants were given harbour, shelter and logistics by the OGWs namely Bilal Ahmed Lone, son of Ghulam Qadir Lone; Sajjad Ganie, son of Nazir Ganaie and Shakir Bashir, son of Bashir Lone, all three being the residents of Nehama village. “The OGW network was unearthed and these three persons were arrested.”

It was revealed by the police that the two slain militants had prepared IEDs which were subsequently recovered from the possession of Shakir Bashir who hid it in the orchards. “The said IEDs were packed in a plastic container along with the explosives, active circuit trigger mechanism which weighed around 6 kg, which was later destroyed in situ by Pulwama Police and Army.”