UP police nabs Bani man for terror links in Pakistan

Major revelations expected in Nagrota, Bann attacks

JAMMU: A Kathua man, suspected of playing roles in facilitating terror attacks in Nagrota and Bann, and having links with intelligence agencies of Pakistan terrorist has been arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police, who have taken him along for further investigation.
The espionage ring was busted by UP Police’s special task force which conducted raids in village Chandok in Loi Mallar area of Bani in the district.
Official sources identified the accused as Shakil Ahmed, son of one Mohammad Abbas.
“The accused is a labourer by profession. He used to talk with the Pakistani intelligence agencies while he was working in Utter Pradesh and New Delhi till recently,” official sources informed The News Now.
After the UP police’s cyber cell got a clue that a J&K youth was in links with the Pakistan agencies and was being used for reviving of militancy in Jammu region, they raided his native place in Kathua and detained him for questioning, they said.
Confirming the raids, SSP Kathua Shailendra Mishra told this scribe: “Yes, Uttar Pradesh Police had approached the Kathua police for arrest of a youth as he was wanted in some case over there.”
While the SSP didn’t divulge further details, official sources that UP police have taken him to Lucknow cyber crime cell for questioning.
“There is strong suspicion and supporting evidences that Pakistani intelligence agencies had directed him to recruit some youth of the area for reviving militancy. He will also be questioned for his links with the terror attacks that took place at Kakriyal terror attack Nagrota, Bann toll plaza attack at Jajjhar Kotli in Jammu district and another attack at Raj Bagh area of Kathua,” the sources informed.
The fresh incident of spying came to fore four months after the arrest of a Samba-based youth who was arrested from Fruit Market area in Narwal allegedly for spying on the direction of Pakistani intelligence agencies.
Pankaj Sharma, a resident of Tarore village in Samba, was arrested on March 4, this year in an area under the jurisdiction of Trikuta Nagar Police Station on specific information.
Sharma was allegedly working as an operative of Pakistani intelligence agencies. He was in touch with his handlers in Pakistan for the past few years and had sent them photos and videos of vital areas and installations mostly in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts via social media platforms in lieu of monetary gains.