‘Their pictures with weapons had gone viral on social media’
Jahangir Lolabi
Kupwara, May 21: Police on Thursday claimed to have arrested three youth who had purportedly posted photographs on the social media holding guns and announced that they have joined militant ranks.
The trio was arrested from Gujarpatti Ganbugh area in Sogam Lolab in this north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
SSP Kupwara Shri Ram Ambarkar told GNS that on basis of specific information, a joint team of Police and army’s 28 RR launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Gujarpatti Ganbugh, a forest area.
During searches, he said, there was a brief exchange of firing but all the three persons were caught alive along with as many weapons. The arrested are residents of Shalgund, Lalpora, of Kupwara.
The trio has been identified as Aabid Hussain Wani son of Gulzar Ahmad, Zakir Rafiq Bhat son of Abdul Rashid both residents of Lalpora and Javid Ahmad Dar son of Ghulam Qadir of Thayan Kalaroos.
Pertinently on Wednesday night, the pictures showing the trio holding weapons had gone viral on social media.
A police spokesman said that a case (FIR No. 54/2020) under relevant sections of law stands registered at police station Sogam and investigation have been set into motion.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that these three were in contact with militant handlers across the LoC via social media, who motivated them to pick arms and join (militant) ranks. However, the swift intervention of police and security forces not only led to their prompt tracing but also in saving the precious lives of these misguided youths,” the spokesman said.
