Two militants, two OGWs arrested in Srinagar: Police

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday claimed to have busted a TRF/Mujahideen Gazwatul Hind modules by arresting two militants and two over ground workers (OGWs) in Barzulla area of Srinagar.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Deputy Inspector General of Police Central Kashmir range, Sujit Kumar Singh, said that two militants and two OGWs were arrested during a joint Naka laid by police and CRPF at Barzulla bridge in Srinagar.

“The arrested militants and OGWs were affiliated with TRF/MGH, which are off-shoots of LeT and JeM,” he said as per news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said the arrests came as part of the investigations being conducted into the killing of a property dealer Rouf Ahmed in Safa Kadal area on December 12, 2021.

“During the course of investigation, movement of some suspects was detected in Srinagar city. Based on further analysis and credible human intelligence, Srinagar Police detected suspicious movement of militants in Bhagat Barzulla area,” said DIG Singh, who was flanked by SSP Srinagar Rakesh Balwal.

The DIG Singh said that the arrested militants have been identified as Suhail Qadir Khanday son of Ghulam Qadir Khanday, resident of Tral, Pulwama, an active militant, resident of Tral Pulwama and Suhail Mushtaq son of Mushtaq Ahmed Waza, a resident of Niklora, also an active militant.

He said that during the search, two pistols along with two pistol magazine and 30 pistol bullets were recovered on spot. “On further questioning of militants, arms and ammunition including two pistols, six pistol magazines, 69 rounds, two pistol silencers have been recovered from their hideout in Srinagar city,” the DIG said, adding that in total, four pistols, eight pistol magazines, 99 live rounds, two pistol silencers have been recovered in the case.

He said that the arrested militants also revealed names of two OGWs who were also arrested. The OGWs were identified as Basit Bilal Makaya son of Bilal Ahmed Makaya, resident of Qamar Abad Qamarwari, Srinagar and Naikoo Imad Nasar, son of Farooq Ahmed Kilora, Shopian, the police officer said.

He said that in this connection, a case under FIR No. 08/2021 of Saddar PS under sections 7/25 of the Arms Act and sections 18, 23 of UAP Act has been registered in PS Saddar.

The DIG said that during the questioning, the arrested militants disclosed that they were operating in Srinagar city on the direction of one person namely Asif Maqbool Dar, resident of MIG Colony Bemina at present Damam, Saudi Arabia and Sajjad Gul, resident of HMT Parimpora at present Pakistan.

“Both the handlers from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were providing them weapons and money through a network of OGWs being identified. This module has also done recce of security installations like NIA office, Delhi Police Headquarters etc. and shared same with handlers in Pakistan,” the DIG said, adding, “As per the investigation, the targets in city for killings were also selected and conveyed to them by Dr Asif and Sajad Gul. Suhail Qadar Khanday was working in Saudi Arabia with Dr Asif and in August 2021 on the direction of Dr Asif, he came back and started working as an operative of TRF/MGH for coordinating the collection of arms/ammunition, money and militant attack in Srinagar city.”