Srinagar, Jan 31 (UNI) Police on Sunday claimed to have arrested three militant associates’ alongwith arms and ammunition, including two hand grenades and four detonators, in central Kashmir district of Budgam.
A senior police official said following specific information, a joint team of police and 53 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) arrested three militant associates in Beerwah, Budgam. “The accused were identified as Mohammad Yousuf Dar alias Janbaz kashmiri, Abdul Majeed Mir alias Majid, both residents of Chewdara Beerwah (ex-militants) and Reyaz Ahmad Basmati, a resident of SafaKadal Srinagar,” he said.
He said these militant associates are affiliated with banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and were also working for other militant outfits Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen.
“Two hand grenades, 25 AK-47 rounds, four detonators, mobile phones used to contact with Pakistani handlers, threat posters and other incriminating material has been recovered from the accused,” he said, adding the trio has been booked in case under relevant sections ULA (P) and IA Act of Police Station Beerwah.
He said these militant associates were operating in Budgam and Srinagar districts with the aim to target newly elected District Development Council (DDC) members and disrupt elections. “They were in touch with handlers in Pakistan viz Sheikh, Usman, Tariq, Haftullah and others,” he said, adding the trio in garb of securing admissions in Pakistani educational institutions, were managing contacts with Pakistan based handlers in order to recruit men and revive militancy in Budgam.
He said they were also involved in several grenade attacks in district Srinagar. “The militant associates disclosed that their motive was to utilise the ex-militants and target DDCs, security forces and political workers. This group has also been active in issuing threat letters to political workers in recent past, the same have also been recovered from them,” he said.
“Their nefarious designs of disrupting democratic process and harming peace loving citizens on behalf of Pakistan based handlers has been thwarted due to timely action by Budgam police and SFs,” he added.
UNI ABS SY 1814