22-year-old Hizb militant, 4 associates arrested in Kupwara: SSP

Srinagar: A Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant and four Over Ground Workers (OGWs) were arrested in Kupwara in north Kashmir, police said on Tuesday.
Addressing reporters, SSP Kupwara Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar said that acting on credible information regarding cross-LoC smuggling of large quantity of weapons by militant associates, a joint operation was carried out last night by police, Army’s 28 RR and 162 battalion CRPF.
“The joint operation successfully culminated In apprehension of one local militant Pervaiz Ahmad Bhat (22) son of Abdullah Bhat of Lalpora,” the SSP said.
He said one AK-47 Rifle and a 9mm Chinese Pistol with Magazines were recovered from his possession during the search operation.
The associates who were apprehended for involvement in “smuggling weapons” for Hizbul Mujahideen militants were identified by him as Altaf Ahmad Mir (35) of Hajibal Narizeb Kalarooch, Ghulam Mohammad Kohli (35) of Warnnow Lolab, Nizam Din Gujjar (44) of Gujjarpati Bandipora, and Abdul Qayoom Gujjar (29) of Khenura Bandipora. To a question, he said, “Kupwara as you know is a border area and an infiltration probe area. (Militants) operating in this area increase or decrease and fluctuates very fast. Presently there is one local (militant) from Kupwara who reportedly operates from south Kashmir. The foreign militant number fluctuates depending upon infiltration.”