PhD scholar from CUK among three held as police bust militant module in Kulgam

KULGAM — Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kulgam on Wednesday said that it has busted a militant recruitment module in the district by arresting three persons including a 17-year-old youth and PhD scholar from Central University of Kashmir (CUK).

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kulgam, Sahil Sangral, while addressing the media persons, said that two over-ground workers and a PhD scholar have been arrested as the police have been able to bust the militant recruitment module within the district.

“Input was generated and was in search of a code name person alias Dr Sabeel who was motivating, funding and providing logistic support to the youth of District Kulgam and adjoining areas to join them terrorist ranks. Special police teams were constituted to search for this suspect and then to take legal action,” SSP said as per the news agency KNO.

After systemic efforts of Kulgam Police, one vehicle bearing number JK18B-4852 was zeroed in. “The credentials of the vehicle were sought and it came to the fore that this vehicle was being used by one Dr Rubani Bashir, son of late Bashir Ahmed Dar of Ashmuji District Kulgam. Accordingly, police Naka was established at Ashmuji and Dr Rubani was arrested. When this person was put to sustained questioning, he disclosed his code name as Dr Sabeel,” police said.

Dr Rubani Bashir alias Dr Sabeel is a PhD scholar from Central University of Kashmir and has also applied for a job as an Assistant Professor there, police said.

“During questioning, Dr Rubani Bashir alias Dr Subeel disclosed that he has been associated with Jamaat-e-Islami from his student days and he has been its member in the student wing (IJT) Islamic Jamat-ul-Tulba for 14 years and later on has been a full-fledged member of JeI. The basic modus operandi of Dr Sabeel was to work for terrorist organization HM/JeM behind the curtain,” police said.

It said, “He used to identify the youngsters, motivated them, funded them and then made them ready to join terrorist organizations.”

“During preliminary investigation, it came to the fore that Dr Rubani Bashir alias Dr Subeel motivated two youngsters and had made them join the terrorist ranks. On the disclosure of Dr Rubani Bashir, two more OGW’s of HM and JeM were arrested, who were identified as Fazil Ahmed Parrey, son of Sheraz Ahmed Parrey (17) of Ashmuji Bhan and Tariq Ahmed Naikoo alias Chawla, son of Ab Ahmed Naikoo (22) of Check Wattoo Aharabal—both labours,” the statement said.

During their disclosures, police said that arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.

“From Dr Rubbani Bashir, one Chinese pistol, one magazine and nine live rounds 9mm were recovered while one magazine of AK-47, 19 live rounds of AK-47 were recovered from the possession of Fazil Ahmed Parrey,” police said, adding that a Chinese grenade, 10 live rounds of AK-47, an Alto car bearing registration number JK18B-4852 which was being used for ferrying the terrorists has been seized from the possession of Tariq Ahmed Naikoo.

In this context, police said that a case under FIR number 143/2023 under section 13, 18, 18-B, 39 of UA(P) Act, dated 25-07-2023 stands registered in Police Station Kulgam.