Srinagar: Police on Friday claimed to have busted two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) modules in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district by arresting eight “terrorist-associates” involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition.
Separately, two more “terrorist associates” of LeT were arrested in the Sopore area of the district and two grenades and eight pistol rounds were recovered from their possession, police said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amod Nagpure told reporters in Baramulla that two modules have been busted in Uri and eight LeT associates arrested.
Nagpure said arms and ammunition have been recovered and cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act & Arms Act have been registered.
Giving details, the SSP said that during patrolling and area domination at Churunda in Uri area of the north Kashmir district on August 8, security forces noticed a suspected person who was roaming in the area.
He tried to flee while noticing the patrolling party, but was apprehended, the officer said.
During his personal search, two grenades were recovered and he was taken into custody immediately, the SSP said.
He identified him as Showkat Ali Awan, son of Abdul Karim Awan, a resident of Churunda Uri.
During further questioning, Awan revealed the names of his accomplices — Ahmad Din, son of Shukur Din, and Mohammad Sadeeq Khatana, son of Umer Din, both residents of Churunda, Nagpure said.
The two were questioned and on their disclosure, two grenades, a Chinese pistol, a pistol magazine and four live rounds were recovered from them, he said.
Similarly, on Aug 11, during a naka checking at Powarian Thajal Uri, security forces signalled a vehicle (CHOID-9588) to stop. As the vehicle stopped, its driver and four other persons inside it told the police party that they were going to a hospital due to some medical emergency, he said.
However, the police party felt suspicious about them and started a search of the vehicle.
During the search, four hand-grenades, two pistols, two pistol magazines, 10 live bullets and Rs 50,000 in cash were recovered, Nagpure said.
He said all the five were taken into custody.
They have been identified as Akhter Bhat, son of Niyaz Bhat, resident of Tarzoo Sopore; Mohammad Aslam Khatana, son of Ata Mohammad, resident of Churunda Uri; Muneer Ahmad, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin, resident of Jabla Uri; Mudasir Yousuf Gokno, son of Mohammad Yousuf, resident of Krankshivan, and Bilal Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin, resident of Hardushiva.
“The accused are involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition at the behest of Pakistan-based terror handlers and its further distribution to LeT terrorists for carrying out terror activities,” the SSP said.
Meanwhile, at a joint checkpoint established at Sher Colony Tarzoo in Sopore area of the north Kashmir district, security forces intercepted two persons who on seeing the joint party tried to flee, but were apprehended, a police spokesman said.
He identified them as Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Rashid Bhat, and Tanveer Ahmad Lone, son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone, both residents of Darnambal Tarzoo.
The two are linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and during their search, two grenades and eight pistol rounds and other incriminating materials were recovered, the spokesman said.
A case has been registered and an investigation has been initiated, he said.
