Srinagar, September 26 : In separate operations, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district have arrested a terrorist and eight individuals associated with terrorism, including two women, who were engaged in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition, as per a statement by the local police on Tuesday.
These terror associates were actively involved in smuggling arms and ammunition across the border on the instructions of Pakistan-based terror handlers. The smuggled weaponry was intended for distribution to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists for use in their terror activities.
Providing further details during a press conference held in Baramulla, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amod Nagpure stated that the investigation was initiated on September 21 when reliable sources reported the disappearance of Yaseen Ahmad Shah, a resident of Janbazpora Baramulla, who had joined the proscribed terror outfit LeT/TRF (The Resistance Front, a shadow outfit of LeT).
Following intelligence inputs, the security forces apprehended Shah during a mobile vehicle check-point (MVCP) operation at Tapper Pattan on September 22. Incriminating materials, along with a pistol, a pistol magazine, and eight live rounds, were seized from his possession.
During subsequent interrogations, Shah revealed the name of his associate, Parvaiz Ahmad, residing in Takiya Wagoora. Security forces arrested Parvaiz Ahmad, recovering two hand grenades from his possession.
On the next day, further questioning of Shah led to the discovery of additional weaponry, including another pistol, a pistol magazine, and eight live rounds from his residence in Janbazpora. Shah also disclosed the names of his female associates, Nigeena and Aafreena, who were apprehended with two hand grenades in their possession.
On Monday, during continued interrogations of Shah and Ahmad, two more associates, Mudasir Ahmad Rather and Showkat Ahmad Malik, were identified. A Chinese grenade, a pistol, a pistol magazine, and eight live rounds were confiscated from their possession.
Investigations have unveiled that these individuals, under the direction of Pakistan-based handlers, were working to recruit more terrorists and execute acts of terror in Baramulla and its surrounding regions. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the UA(P) and Arms Act, with the investigation ongoing.
In a separate operation, security forces uncovered a terror module and arrested three terrorist associates affiliated with the LeT outfit. During a checkpoint inspection at Paranpeelan Bridge Uri, two suspicious individuals attempting to flee from the checkpoint were apprehended. A search yielded two Glock pistols, four pistol magazines, two pistol silencers, five Chinese grenades, and 29 live pistol rounds. The arrested individuals were identified as Zaid Hassan Malla and Mohammad Arif Channa.
These terror associates were engaged in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition on the orders of Pakistan-based terror handlers for further distribution to LeT terrorists for carrying out acts of terror. A case has been registered under the Indian Arms Act and UA(P) Act, with investigations underway.
During the course of the investigation, the associates revealed the name of their accomplice, Aftaar Ahmad Lohar, a resident of Surankote Poonch, who was subsequently arrested, according to the SSP.
