Attack foiled, three militants, 4 associates arrested across valley

TNN Bureau. Updated: 9/12/2020 12:54:16 PM Front Page

Body of JeM ultra found 5 days after gunfight

SRINAGAR: Security forces have recovered the body of a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant, who was injured in an encounter in Budgam district earlier this week, from a stream near the site of the gunfight, even as three militants belonging to Al-badr and JeM, and four terrorists associates—two of Al-badr and two of LeT were arrested from different places in Kashmir Valley.
Five days after the exchange of fire took place between security forces and militants in Budgam district, the body of a militant was recovered from Sukhnag Nallah of the district on Friday.
"Police and Army, with the help of Marine commandos, last night recovered a militant's body from a 'nallah' (stream) after four days' search for the terrorists who had jumped into in after receiving bullet injuries during the encounter on September 7 at Kawoosa in Budgam district," a police official said.
The encounter had broken out on Monday after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Kawoosa area of the central Kashmir district following specific information about the presence of militants there.
Soon after the initial exchange of firing, clashes broke out near the encounter site as groups of youths pelted stones at the security forces who chased away the protestors by firing tear smoke shells.
While the gunfight stopped after a while, the security forces continued the search operation and after four days of searches in the area, a militant's body was recovered, the official said.
The militant has been identified as Aqib Ahmed Lone, a resident of Aglar area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district. Lone was affiliated with JeM, the official said.
He said the security forces have also recovered a bag containing some arms and ammunition including a fully-loaded AK magazine, 13 Chinese grenades, 14 knives, 25 mobile phones and a 'pheran' (Kashmiri cloak) during searches in the stream.
In Baramulla district, security forces busted a module of al-Badr terror outfit by arresting a militant and his two associates.
The al-Badr module, involved in grenade throwing incidents at Police Post Warpora in Sopore area of the north Kashmir district, was busted by arresting an uncategorized militant of the outfit, a police official said. He said the militant was identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Pandith, a resident of Bunpora Dangerpora area of Sopore.
Two of his associates, Abdul Majeed Dar and Mubashir Ahmad Dar, both residents of Dangerpora Sopore, were also arrested, the official said. He said more arrests are expected in the case and further investigation is in progress.
In Kupwara, security forces have arrested two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants and recovered arms, ammunition and cash from their possession, the Army said on Friday.
"Based on a credible input, multiple joint check posts were established in Drugmulla area of Kupwara on Thursday," an army official said.
He said two JeM militants travelling in a car were arrested late in the evening and the security forces recovered an AK rifle with ammunition, two grenades, Rs 7 lakh in cash, and other war-like stores from them.
In a separate incident, police on Friday foiled a grenade attack and arrested two persons at Najibhat crossing in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
“On a specific intelligence input that a grenade attack was being planned in the general area of Baramulla, the joint nakas were laid by Police Baramulla, 52 RR, 53 CRPF and 176 CRPF at various places including Kralhar, Pattan, Kreeri Market and Najibhat Crossing Kreeri,” a police spokesman said.
In the afternoon, two persons approaching Najibhat crossing were asked to stop. “On being asked to stop, they tried to flee and were challenged by the forces and subsequently captured,” police said.
The duo as per police was identified as Muhammad Yaseen Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Bhat of Check Tapper and Wasid Ashraf Sofi, son of Muhammad Ashraf Sofi of Watergam Kreeri.
“Further on their personal frisking, one grenade was recovered from their possession. On preliminary questioning, they revealed that they are affiliated with the militant organization Lashkar-e-Toiba and were working under the command of Pakistan based LeT Commander Abid Qayoom of Andergam Pattan,” police said.
In this instance, police said that a case under FIR number 92/2020 of Police Station Kreeri stands registered under the relevant provisions of the law and further investigation is underway.


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