5 militants held in 3 raids, LeT plan to revive militancy in Jammu foiled

TNN Bureau. Updated: 5/14/2019 11:54:23 AM Front Page

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Two Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were arrested in Ramban district on Monday, with the Army claiming to have scuttled a conspiracy of the terror outfit to expand its arc of terrorism in the Jammu region.

In two separate raids across the Valley, three more militants—2 of LeT and one of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were arrested, taking the total number of ultras arrested to five.

In a major success, the security forces on Monday foiled attempts to revive terrorism in the south of Pir Panjal range by arresting two Lashkar militants, both residents of south Kashmir and both in their teens.

The Gool-Ramban belt, which is located between Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur and Ramban districts of the Jammu region and south Kashmir's Kulgam district, had been an operational hub and a launching pad of foreign mercenaries until 2000.

“Showkat Ahmad Sheikh of Charsoo village of Awantipora in Pulwama district and Taweel Mohiuddin Dar of Malipura village of Kulgam were arrested by a joint search party of police and Army's 58 Rashtriya Rifles and 9 Para from the Hara area of Gool,” a police officer said.

An AK-47 rifle, along with a magazine and 30 rounds, and Rs 8,771 were seized from the possession of the arrested militants, he added.

The joint search operation was launched around 3.30 am after specific information about suspicious movement of some anti-national elements was received, the officer said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the militants are affiliated to LeT.

"They were acting on the instructions of an active terrorist Naveed alias Abu Talla," the official said without sharing any further details.

A case vide FIR No 40/2019 under sections 121 A, 120 B, 122 of the Ranbir Penal Code and under section 13/17/19 of ULA (P) Act has been registered against the duo and further investigation is on, he said.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Udhampur-based northern command, Lt Col Abhinav Navneet said their arrest foiled an attempt by the LeT to revive terrorism in south of the Pir Panjal range (Jammu region).

"Combined efforts of the Indian Army (Rashtriya Rifles) and Jammu and Kashmir police in the Gool area under counter insurgency force (uniform) delivered a major setback to the terrorist outfit in their efforts to revive terrorism south of Pir Panjal range," Lt Col Navneet said.

"Based on specific intelligence inputs, the security forces conducted an operation in Harah village in Gool Tehsil in the early hours of Monday. During the operation, the security forces apprehended two suspected terrorists and recovered one AK-47 assault rifle with ammunition, personal items and cash worth Rs 8,871 from their possession."

He said both the individuals are in their teens.

"The timely apprehension of suspected terrorists and recovery of war-like stores has thwarted the nefarious design of terrorist organisation to spread the 'Arc of Terrorism' south of Pir Panjal Range," the PRO said.

Meanwhile in Valley, three more militants were arrested by the security forces in two separate raids.
Hilal Ahmad, a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) ultra was arrested from Dooru area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district, a police officer said,

“Several arms and ammunition were recovered from him,” he said.

Police have registered a case and investigation is going on to probe his complicity in terror crimes, the officer said.

Earlier, two associates of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT)—one of them believed to be a militant commander’s brother were arrested along with arms and ammunition from Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

“A joint team of police and SOG during a raid at Hajin area late Sunday night arrested two militants of LeT,” a police officer informed, identifying the duo as Mohammad Iqbal Wani and Zahoor Ahmad Parray.
“Two hand grenades, two AK magazines along with 60 rounds of AK series were recovered from their possession,” the officer said.

A case under FIR number 18/2019 under section 7/25 IA Act and 18 ULA Act has been registered in police station concerned and further investigations have been taken up, the officer said.

According to sources, Zahoor Ahmad is the brother of LeT militant commander Mohd Saleem Parray.


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