Two militant modules of JeM & LeT busted in Pulwama: Police

PULWAMA — Jammu & Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have busted two militant modules in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

“Awantipora Police along with security forces busted terror modules of proscribed terror outfits JeM and LeT and arrested seven militants associates. Besides, recovered huge quantity of explosive material, detonators, grenades and also seized a Maruti car,” police said in a statement here.

It added, “Police received information that militants of proscribed outfit JeM are planning an attack by means of triggering vehicle-borne IED in Pampore-Khrew area. Upon this information, police along with 50 RR and CRPF carried out searches in Pampore area. During searches, one person, identified as Sahil Nazir son of Nazir Ahmad Mir resident of Drangabal Pampore, was apprehended.”

“During questioning, Sahil Nazir revealed that he was in touch with one Pak-based militant commander Khalid Bin Waleed by means of various communication channels. The militant commander Khalid Bin Waleed intends to do some spectacular terror act and then the claim shall be made on behalf of a new militant outfit Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind,” the statement quoted.

It further said, “He further revealed that militant commander Khalid Bin Waleed motivated him to carry out militant attack in Pampore area for which he volunteered himself to carry out the attack in the area. During further questioning, it surfaced that terrorist commander Khalid Bin Waleed delivered Rs. 70,000 to Sahil Nazir for purchasing a vehicle.”

“The investigation into the case also revealed that Sahil Nazir tasked his other OGWs and associates namely Kaisar Ahmad Bhat son of Farooq Ahmad Bhat resident of Drangbal Pampore to purchase a second hand vehicle. Accordingly, the vehicle Maruti 800 bearing registration number JK01E-0690 was purchased from Srinagar. The said vehicle was kept hidden at a safe place at Wuyan in OGW Kaisar’s relative’s house,” the statement said.

It informed, “Accordingly, three more militant associates of the module namely Yasir Ali Wani son of Ali Mohammad Wani resident of Pampore, Kaisar Ahmad Bhat son of Farooq Ahmad Bhat resident of Drangabal and Mohammad Mounis Fayaz alias Brooj Malik son of Fayaz Ahmad resident of Drangabal were arrested with explosive material.”

“It is pertinent to mention that on 25th of January, 2021, Sahil Nazir along with Kaisar Ahmad Bhat travelled on Scooty to reach the CRPF camp (Grid Station Pampore) and lobbed a grenade on CRPF (located at Grid Station Pampore). However, the grenade did not explode for the reason the pin of the grenade was not properly removed. The said hand-grenade was later recovered live from the premises of the said camp,” the police said.

It further informed, “The investigation also revealed that Sahil Nazir was supposed to receive other explosive material in the near future.”

“Eight electronic detonators and a Chinese hand-grenade were recovered from the arrested militant associates. Besides, a Maruti 800 car has also been seized,” police claimed.

It revealed further, “A case FIR number 27/2021 under relevant sections of law stands registered at Police Station Pampore in this regard and further investigation is in progress.”

Giving information about a similar operation, police said, “Awantipora police along with security forces also busted LeT militant module after receiving information that militants of proscribed outfit LeT are planning terror attack by means of triggering an explosive substance in Pampore area.”

“Acting on this information, Awantipora Police along with 50 RR and CRPF carried out a search operation in Pampore area. During the search operation, one OGW/associate of proscribed outfit LeT, namely Musaib Aziz Gojri son of Abdul Aziz Gojri resident of Namlabal Pampore, was apprehended,” it said.

It added, “During questioning, Musaib admitted that he was in continuous touch with LeT commander of Pampore Umer Khanday and was handed a container containing approximately 25 kilograms of explosive material (aluminium powder). Accordingly, the said container was recovered. He further revealed that the explosive material was kept with him for preparing IED and the other parts of IED were supposed to reach to him in near future.”

“During further course of investigation, two more militant associates of the same module namely Muneeb Mushtaq Sheikh alias Zarar son of Mushtaq Ahmad resident of Drangbal Pampore and Shahid Ahmad Sofi son of Ghulam Mohammad Sofi resident of Namblabal Pampore have been arrested along with explosive material,” police claimed.

As per police records, these arrested militant associates are involved in providing shelter, logistics to the militants of proscribed terror outfit LeT and transporting arms and ammunition of the militants.

“A case FIR number 28/2021 under relevant sections of law stands registered at Police Station Pampore and further investigation is in progress,” the police statement said.

Earlier, IGP Kashmir appreciated the role of Awantipora Police for generating actionable inputs and consequent successful operations.