JeM militant module busted in Awantipora: Police

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have busted a module of militant associate network of Jaish-e-Muhammad, a militant outfit, by arresting six of their associates.

“Awantipora Police along with 42RR and 180 BN CRPF busted a militant associate network of Jaish-e-Muhammad involved in grenade lobbing incidents in Tral area of Awantipora and Sangam area of Anantnag district,” police spokesman said in a statement.

They have been identified as Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, son of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat of Larow Tral, Umer Jabar Dar, son of Muhammad Jabar Dar of Wagad Tral, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Bhat of Dogripora Awantipora, Sameer Ahmad Lone, son of Ghulam Muhammad Lone of Darganiegund Tral, Muhammad Amin Khan, son of Ghulam Hassan Khan and Rafiq Ahmad Khan, son of Abdul Ahad Khan—both residents of Handoora Tral.

“Incriminating material including explosive substances has been recovered from their possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their role and complicity in other cases,” police said.

Police added that preliminary investigation reveals that arrested militant associates have been in contact with Pakistani handlers and have targeted security forces by lobbing grenades in the recent past.

They have also been involved in pasting of threat poster of election boycott in Tral area, police said, adding that cases under FIR numbers 99/2020 and 109/2020 under relevant sections of law have been registered in Police Station Tral and further investigation into the cases have been initiated.