Srinagar: The killing of Territorial Army soldier Sameer Ahmad Malla, whose body was found in an orchard in Budgam district of central Kashmir, was a “terror act” and a militant associate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) involved in the crime has been arrested, police said on Monday.
Three more militant associates were arrested after a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) module involved in the killing of a Sarpanch was busted in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, police said.
Territorial Army soldier Sameer Ahmad Malla was found dead on Thursday, three days after he had gone missing.
“Case of death of soldier Sameer Ahmad Malla of Khag Budgam turned to be #terror act of #abduction & #murder,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said on Twitter.
The IGP said “a terrorist associate of LeT terror outfit involved in the crime” has been arrested.
“Other 03 LeT #terrorists involved also identified & shall soon be dealt under law,” the IGP Kashmir said.
Sharing details, police spokesperson in a statement said that on 7th of March, Police Station Khag received information about Malla going missing from his residence.
After lodging a formal missing report, the search to trace the missing soldier was launched, during which police learnt about the digging of fresh soil at a spot between village Larkipora and Labran Khag, and recovered Malla’s dead body from the said spot.
During the course of investigation, specific leads were generated which led to one suspect identified as Ather Illahi Sheikh. “During questioning, he confessed that on March 06, three terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT came to his house and stayed there for night and next day pursuant to a well-knit conspiracy the Army Jawan Sameer Ahmad Malla was called by the said terrorist associate Ather Illahi to his residence wherefrom he was kidnapped by all the four and thereafter was taken to the spot wherefrom the dead body was retrieved,” police spokesperson informed.
“After killing the Army Jawan, the said terrorist associate Ather Illahi Sheikh got the shovel from his house which was used to bury the dead body. The said shovel was also recovered by the investigating team. Further investigation into the case is vigorously going on,” the spokesperson said.
Militants had killed Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir near his residence in Adoura in Kulgam on Friday night.
“#Kulgam Police busted #terror module of proscribed terror outfit HM involved in recent #killing of #Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir & arrested 03 #terrorist associates actively involved,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said on Twitter.
“During #investigation, it was learnt that the Sarpanch was killed by HM #terrorist Mushtaq Yatoo on the directions of HM Chief terrorist Farooq Nalli,” Kumar said
Police had earlier said Mir was given accommodation in a secured hotel in Srinagar but he had left it and reached his home without informing authorities.
Meanwhile, giving out details of this cases, police spokesperson in a statement said that on March 11, “terrorists barged into the residential premises of Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir of Adoora Kulgam and killed him after he was indiscriminately fired upon.”
During the course of investigation, “it was learnt that an active terrorist of proscribed terror outfit HM namely Farooq Nali alias Umer had received directions from handlers based in Pakistan to target the PRI members of Kulgam,” spokesperson said.
He said “on their directions, he identified the target and gave direction to active HM terrorists — Mushtaq Itoo alias Faizan, and Zubair Sofi alias Farhan to execute the terror act with the support of their associates Danish Ahmad Dar, resident of Mohanpora Kulgam; Faisal Hameed Wagay, resident of Adoora Kulgam, and Nisar Rashid Bhat of Tengpora Shopian.”
“The directions included to conduct reccee of the Sarpanch’s presence, arrange transport and provide logistics to execute the terror act,” police spokesperson said.
He said police arrested the three “terrorist associates involved in this crime” and seized the vehicles used in the commission of crime, besides arms ammunition including two pistols, three pistol magazines, 11 pistol rounds, two grenades, one AK magazine, and 15 AK-47 rounds and other incriminating materials.
The investigation of the case is going on and based on the investigation more arrests and recoveries are also expected, police spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, an active terrorist of JeM was arrested today from Pulwama and incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a pistol was recovered from his possession, police said.
A police spokesman said that during surprise naka checking by police along with 55RR, 182/183Bn CRPF, movement of a suspicious person was noticed, who was apprehended tactfully by the alert naka party.
“He has been identified as Abrar Bashir son of Bashir Ah Bhat resident of Takia Pulwama. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a Pistol, one magazine, 12 rounds and one grenade were recovered from his possession,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that as per police records, the arrested is a categorized terrorist as he had recently joined the terror folds of proscribed terror outfit JeM.
“Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation into the matter is in progress,” said the spokesman.
