Srinagar: Police arrested two militants and three militant associates of Al-Badr militant outfit and seized arms and ammunition from their possession in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said on Tuesday.
“Police in Handwara busted a terror module of proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr and arrested two active terrorists and three terrorist associates. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered,” a police spokesperson said.
He said acting on a specific information regarding the movement of militants on Baramulla-Handwara highway in the north Kashmir district, a special checkpoint was established near Kachloo Crossing by security forces.
During checking of vehicles, three people riding a motorcycle tried to escape from the spot but were apprehended by the alert forces, he said.
They were identified as Mohammad Yaseen Rather, son of Mohammad Akbar; Showkat Ahmad Ganie, son of Sonaullah Ganie, and Ghulam Nabi Rather, son of Wali Mohammad, all the residents of Kachloo Qaziabad village, the spokesman said.
During a search, incriminating materials of proscribed outfit Al-Badr and arms and ammunition were seized from their possession, he added.
Preliminary investigation revealed that those arrested were working for Al-Badr and were involved in providing logistic support, food and shelter to active militants, the spokesman said.
“They were also helping to establish a militant associate network for the outfit, including identifying safe routes for their movement,” he said.
Police registered a case, and further investigation was initiated.
During the course of the probe, the spokesperson said, those arrested disclosed that two other people known to them had recently joined militant ranks and were operating in Handwara area.
Accordingly, he said, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the forest area of Baderkali.
During the operation, both the militants, along with arms and ammunition, were arrested, the spokesman said.
They were identified as Saleem Yousuf Rather, son of Mohammad Yousuf Rather, and Ikhlaq Ahmad Sheikh, son of Imtiyaz Ahmad, both residents of Watergam.
“The investigation also revealed that the two joined militant ranks recently and were planning to attack security forces’ installations, panchs, sarpanchs and other people to create violence in the area,” the spokesperson said.
Further investigation into the matter is in progress, he added.
