LeT militant, two women, juvenile arrested in Baramulla: Police

BARAMULLA — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested a 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) Baramulla Amog Nagpure said that police have arrested an active LeT militant and five militant associates in Baramulla and recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition including grenades and pistols from them.

“The process of arrests started after two suspects were detained in September in Uri. The five terror associates arrested include two women and a juvenile as well,” he said, as per the news agency KNO.

The SSP said that on September 21, Police in Baramulla through reliable sources came to know that an individual namely Yaseen Ahmad Shah son of Tariq Ahmad, resident of Janbazpora Baramulla is missing from his home and had joined the proscribed militant outfit LeT/TRF.

“Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law was registered in Police Station Baramulla and an investigation was taken up. On receipt of this information, based on human/technical intelligence, a joint team of Baramulla Police, Army & CAPF during MVCP checking at Tapper Pattan apprehended the said terrorist on September 22,” he said, adding that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a pistol, a pistol magazine and eight live rounds were recovered from his possession.

“During questioning, he disclosed the name of his other associate as Parvaiz Ahmad Shah son of Ali Mohd, resident of Takiya Wagoora. Accordingly, joint parties of Baramulla Police, Army & CAPF raided his residence and subsequently arrested him. Upon his disclosure, two hand grenades were also recovered from his possession,” the SSP said, adding, “On September 23, during the further course of interrogation of terrorist Mohd Yaseen Shah and on his disclosure, a pistol, a pistol magazine and eight 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, resident of Vijipora Hajin and Aafreena alias Aayat daughter of Gulzar Ahmad Ganie, resident of Patpora Shalteng Srinagar and upon their disclosure, two hand grenades were recovered from their possession.

“On September 25, during questioning of terrorists Yaseen Ahmad Shah and Parvaiz Ahmad Shah, they disclosed the names of two more associates as Mudasir Ahmad Rather son of Gh Mohiuddin Rather, resident of Takiya Wagoora and Showkat Ahmad Malik son of Habibullah Malik, resident of Wagila Wagoora and upon their disclosure, a Chinese grenade, a pistol, pistol magazines and eight live rounds were recovered respectively from their possession. Investigation has revealed that this terrorist along with his five associates were operating on the directions from Pakistan-based handlers and were planning to recruit more terrorists and carry out terrorist activities in Baramulla and nearby areas,” he said, adding that the case under sections of UA (P) & Arms Act stands registered in Police Station Baramulla and investigation is going on.

Earlier, on September 14, police during a joint Naka check at Paranpeelan Bridge in 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 search, two Glock pistols, four pistol magazines, two pistol silencers, five Chinese grenades and 29 live pistol rounds were recovered from them and were taken into custody immediately, who were later identified as Zaid Hassan Malla son of Ghulam Hassan Malla, resident of Mir Sahib Baramulla and Muhammad Arif Channa son of Nazir Ahmad Channa, 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 terror handlers and its further distribution to LeT militants for carrying out militant activities.

“Case under Indian Arms Act & UA (P) Act was registered in Police Station Uri and investigations were taken up. During the course of the investigation, they disclosed the name of their associate as Aftaar Ahmad Lohar son of Mohd Maqbool Lohar, resident of Surankote Poonch and was subsequently arrested in the instant case,” he said.

Asked whether the involvement of females and juveniles in militant networks was a challenge, the SSP said that it wasn’t the first time as earlier many females and juveniles were arrested for militant links. “In this case, we have observed an arms supply racket running 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 the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA).