Srinagar, May 16: Police on Monday claimed to have busted a militant module of Lashker-e-Toiba by arresting seven militants and their associates including a woman in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
“During the course of investigation of cases regarding the recent Bandipora encounters, Police along security forces busted a militant module of LeT by arresting an active Pakistani trained militant, two hybrid militants and four militant associates,” said a police spokesman in a statement. The “Pakistan trained” militant has been identified as Arif Ajaz Shehri son of Ajaz Ahmad alias Anfall of of Nadihal, “who had went to Pakistan on valid visa in year 2018 through Wagah Border and infiltrated back to this side after obtaining illegal arms training and started actively working with outfit LeT in Bandipora.”
The spokesman identified “hybrid militants” as Ajaz Ahmad Reshi son of Abdul Majeed of Rampora and Shariq Ahmad Lone son of Mohammad Sadiq Lone of Gundpora. “The arrested militants were tasked to carry out attacks on Police/SF and other soft targets particularly in Bandipora district”.
The four militant associates have been identified as Riyaz Ahmad Mir alias Metha Shehri son of Ghulam Mohammad Mir of Plan Bandipora, Ghulam Mohammad Waza alias ‘Gul Bab’ son of Ghulam Qadir Waza of Tawheedabad Bagh, Maqsood Ahmad Malik son of Mohammad Jamal Malik of Chittibandy Aragam and Sheema Shafi Waza daughter of Mohammad Shafi of Tawheedabad Bagh.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested militant associates were involved in harbouring militants, providing logistics/material support including transportation of (militants) in the Bandipora district,” the spokesman said, adding, “The arrested female militant associate was also involved in providing Wi-Fi hotspot, accommodation and ferrying militants in town Bandipora.”
He said “incriminating materials, arms ammunition including 02 Pistols, 03 Pistol Magazine, 25 Pistol rounds, 03 Hand Grenades were recovered from their possession.” Besides, he said, an Ecco Van (JK15A-1528) which was being used in ferrying of militants from Bandipora to Nowgam, Pantha Chowk and Srinagar was also seized. “Moreover, 03 Scooties were also seized which were being used for doing reccee of Police, security establishments, monitor movement of security forces and ferrying of militants in Bandipora areas,” he said, adding, “Similarly, one Maruti-800 Car and one Pulsar Bike were also seized.”
Cases under the relevant sections of law have been registered and further investigation is going on, the statement added.
