Srinagar: Security forces arrested two overground workers of Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, police said Wednesday.
Police alongwith other security agencies arrested two militant associates of banned JeM outfit and recovered live arms and ammunition from their possession during the intervening night of September 08 and 09, a police spokesman said.
Acting on a credible input about anti-national elements carrying arms and ammunition to Srinagar, security forces laid a naka near Jawahar Tunnel, he said.
“A truck (JK22B-1737) was intercepted by the forces. While searching the vehicle and during interrogation of suspects arms and ammunition including one AK rifle with two magazines (59 rounds), one M4 Carbine with three magazines (90 rounds), six Chinese pistols with 12 magazines (84 rounds) were recovered from the vehicle,” spokesman said.
He said the truck driver and a person travelling in it were detained and after sustained interrogation, preliminary investigation reveals that they are involved in militancy and provided support to militant organisations.
The two arrested persons were identified as Bilal Ahmad Kuttay, son of Ghulam Mohammad Kuttay of Chotapora Shopain, and Shahnawaz Ahmad Mir, son of Zahoor Ahmad Mir of Mandujan, Shopian.
A case with FIR No 255/2020 U/S 7/25 IA Act, 13,18,39 ULAP Act stands registered in Police Station Qazigund and further investigation into the matter has been taken up, spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) South Kashmir range, Atul Goel Wednesday said that the arms and ammunition recovered from the truck “were seemingly meant for recruiting new people into militancy.”
Addressing a press conference at Amno, SOG camp in Kulgam district, as per news agency KNO, said that police have so far been able to contain the local militant recruitment after it witnessed a sharp rise earlier. “We will not allow the recruitment to gain ground again,” he said.
Asked about the arrests made and whether weapon consignment was meant to be delivered in south Kashmir, he said that two people including the driver of the truck and the co-driver have been arrested and a special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to find out for whom the weapons were meant to be delivered.
“Prima facie it looks like that the pistol consignment was meant for recruitment of new youth. Investigations are on and more details will come to fore,” he said, adding “one thing is clear that weapon consignment was obviously meant to fuel militancy in south Kashmir.”
