Srinagar: Security forces have busted a terror module in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district with the arrest of two people, including the wife of a slain terrorist, police said on Saturday.
Separately three “terrorist associates” were arrested in two separate operations in Kupwara district and five hand-grenades were recovered from them.
A police spokesman said that based on specific input about the movement of a “hybrid terrorist”, a checkpoint was established in the Dardgund area of the north Kashmir district on Friday, a police spokesman said.
He said a person tried to flee on seeing security personnel at the checkpoint and was subsequently arrested.
A pistol, a pistol magazine, eight rounds and other incriminating material were recovered from him, the spokesman said and identified the accused as Shafayat Zubair Rishi, a resident of Nesbal Sumbal.
During questioning, the accused disclosed that he was on his way to collect a cache of arms and ammunition from a woman identified as Munira Begum — the wife of slain terrorist commander Yousuf Chopan.
Begum was also arrested, police said.
The accused was in touch with “Pakistan-based terror handler Mushtaq Ahmad Mir who exfiltrated” to the neighbouring country in 1999 and was working for the revival of terrorists in the district.
“Rishi was involved in a blast in Kothibagh in 2000 in which 14 people, including 12 police personnel, were killed and had remained associated with the proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and later on with terror outfit Al-Badr,” police said, adding that Rishi was also involved in the burning of an Army vehicle in Sumbal in 2009 and is out on bail in the case.
“On the disclosure of Begum, security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including a Krinkov AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 90 rounds and a pen pistol that were to be delivered to Rishi, from a nearby forested area,” the spokesman said.
“During questioning, it was known that Begum had gone to Pakistan twice,” the spokesman added.
“Rishi admitted that he was about to receive Rs 47 lakh for the revival of terrorism in the district,” police said, adding that with the busting of this module, the security forces have successfully foiled the nefarious designs of Pakistan-based terror handlers in reviving terrorism in the district.
A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, police spokesman said that police along with 28 Rashtriya Rifles apprehended two terrorist associates affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba in Kupwara, local news agency KNO reported.
The statement reads that acting on credible information received, police and Army launched an operation to intercept two terrorist associates who had procured a consignment from an unidentified individual in Kupwara.
“The individuals were traced to be moving towards Shatmuqam with instructions received from Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Ghulam Rasool alias Rafia Rasool, originally a resident of Chandigam Lolab and now based in PoK. The apprehended individuals were identified as Zubair Ahmad Shah Peerzada and Peerzada Mubashir Yousf, both residents of Shatmuqam,” it reads.
The statement reads that the security forces successfully nabbed the suspects as they attempted to flee.
“Five hand-grenades and three mobile phones were recovered from them. Initial investigations suggest that the duo had been given the assignment of selecting local targets who are involved in disseminating government schemes in the area. They had also shared photographs indicating potential targets to their handlers,” it added.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
In a separate incident, Police along with 47 RR (Bihar) acting on “reliable information”, established a joint checkpoint in the general area of Dragmullah Shalpora. A vehicle was intercepted and a hand-grenade was found concealed beneath its left front seat.
One Zahoor Ahmad Khan driving the said vehicle was apprehended and taken into custody.”
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.)
