Srinagar, Jan 31: Three militant associates were arrested along with arms and ammunition in Budgam district of central Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.
“Police, 53 RR army and CRPF arrested three (militant) associates identified as Moahmmad Yousuf Dar alias Janbaz kashmiri son of Ghulam Rasool Dar, Abdul Majeed Mir alias Majid son of Assadullah Mir (ex-militants), both residents of Chewdara Beerwah and Reyaz Ahmad Basmati son of Mohammad Maqbool Basmati of SafaKadal Srinagar,” police said in a statement.
These associates were affiliated with LeT and were also working for other militant outfits, Tehreek-ul- Mujahideen, the police said.
“Two hand grenades, 25 AK-47 rounds, 04 detonators, mobile phones used to contact with Pakistani handlers, threat posters and other incriminating material has been recovered from them.”
Police said that case FIR No. 11/2021 under relevant sections of ULA (P) and I.A Act has been registered with police station Beerwah.
“These associates were operating in Budgam and Srinagar Districts with the aim to target newly elected DDC members and disrupt elections,” police said, adding, “They were in touch with handlers in Pakistan viz Sheikh, Usman, Tariq, Haftullah and others. These (militant) associates in garb of securing admissions in Pakistani educational institutions, were managing contacts with Pakistan based handlers in order to recruit (militants) and revive militancy in Budgam.” They were also involved in several grenade attacks in district Srinagar, police said. “The associates disclosed that their motive was to recycle the ex-militants and target DDCs, security forces and political workers,” police said, adding, “This group has also been active in issuing threat letters to political workers in recent past, the same have also been recovered from them.”
