Srinagar: Police on Thursday arrested two militants affiliated with TRF and MGH (Mujahideen Gazwatul Hind) militant outfits and as many of their associates involved in the killing of a property dealer in downtown Srinagar in December last year.
As per police, the property dealer Rauf Ahmed was shot dead by these militants on December 22 in Safa Kadal area.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Deputy Inspector General of Police Central Kashmir range, Sujit Kumar Singh said that two militants and two OGWs were arrested during a joint naka laid by police and CRPF at Barzulla bridge in Srinagar.
“The arrested militants and OGWs are affiliated with TRF/MGH, which are off-shoots of LeT and JeM,” he said.
He said the arrests came as part of the investigations being conducted into the killing of a property dealer Rouf Ahmed in Safa Kadal area on December 12, 2021.
“During the course of investigation, movement of some suspects was detected in Srinagar City. Based on further analysis and credible human intelligence, Srinagar Police detected suspicious movement of militants in Bhagat Barzulla area,” said DIG Singh, who was flanked by SSP Srinagar Rakesh Balwal.
The DIG said that the arrested militants have been identified as Suhail Qadir Khanday S/o Ghulam Qadir Khanday, resident of Tral, Pulwama, and Suhail Mushtaq S/o Mushtaq Ahmed Waza, a resident of Niklora, Pulwama, both active militants.
He said that during the search, two pistols along with two pistol magazine and 30 pistol bullets were recovered on the spot. “On further questioning of militants, arms and ammunition including two pistols, six pistol magazines, 69 rounds, two pistol silencers have been recovered from their hideout in Srinagar city,” the DIG said, adding that in total four pistols, eight pistol magazines, 99 live rounds, two pistol silencers have been recovered in the case.
He said that the arrested militants also revealed names of two OGWs who were also arrested. The OGWs were identified as Basit Bilal Makaya S/O Bilal Ahmed Makaya R/O Qamar Abad Qamarwari, Srinagar and Naikoo Imad Nasar S/O Farooq Ahmed Kilora, Shopian, the police officer said.
He said that in this connection Case under FIR No 08/2021 of Saddar PS under sections 7/25 of the arms act and sections 18,23 of UAP Act has been registered in PS Saddar.
The DIG said that during the questioning, the arrested militants disclosed that they were operating in Srinagar city on the direction of one person namely Asif Maqbool Dar R/O MIG Colony Bemina at present Damam, Saudi Arabia and Sajjad Gul R/O HMT Parimpora at present Pakistan.
“Both the handlers from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were providing them weapons and money through a network of OGWs, which is being identified. This module has also done recce of security installations like NIA office, Delhi Police Headquarters etc. and shared same with handlers in Pakistan,” the DIG said, adding that “As per the investigation the targets in city for killings were also selected and conveyed to them by Dr Asif and Sajad Gul.
“Suhail Qadar Khanday was working in Saudi Arabia with Dr Asif and in August 2021 on the direction of Dr Asif he came back and started working as an operative of TRF/MGH/ for coordinating the collection of Arms/Ammunition, money and militant attack in Srinagar City,” he said. Dr Asif Dar originally hails from Bandi Payeen village of Baramulla and his father Mohammad Maqbool Dar has contested elections for assembly from Sangrama constituency and lost.
Kashmir Zone Police Tweeted:
Congratulations to @SrinagarPolice for busting hybrid #terror module of TRF/MGH by arresting 4 #terrorists along with 4 pistols. This module was operating in City on the direction of Sajjad Gul and Dr Asif from across: IGP Kashmir@JmuKmrPolice
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) January 6, 2022
“Congratulations to @SrinagarPolice for busting hybrid #terror module of TRF/MGH by arresting 4 #terrorists along with 4 pistols. This module was operating in City on the direction of Sajjad Gul and Dr Asif from across: IGP Kashmir
There are already 3 more case FIRs registered against Dr Asif in #Srinagar for using provocative language to invoke disaffection against the govt establishments & promoting enmity b/w different groups. 1st time Dr Asif found directly involved in #terrorism in Kashmir: IGP Kashmir
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) January 6, 2022
“There are already 3 more case FIRs registered against Dr Asif in #Srinagar for using provocative language to invoke disaffection against the govt establishments & promoting enmity b/w different groups. 1st time Dr Asif found directly involved in #terrorism in Kashmir: IGP Kashmir.”
