Inputs about LeT chief in Srinagar, alert sounded
Al-Badar chief’s killing major jolt to militancy
Srinagar: The IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Wednesday claimed police busted two militant modules planning to carry out Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Fidayeen attacks in south Kashmir.
“Awantipora police arrested four Pampore residents affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit who were planning to trigger a car borne IED on the national highway for which the explosive was being transported from north Kashmir,” Kumar told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday.
He said the arrested youth were identified as BA first year student Sahil Nazir, Kaiser Ahmad, Mohammad Younis Fayaz and Yasir Wani. “Sahil was persuaded by his handlers on telegram and other platforms for the last many days to carry out the IED blast on the high. He had made arrangements of a car bearing number JK01E 0690”.
Kumar said that Sahil confessed that before planning this attack, he had lobbed a grenade at a CRPF post at Pampore. “Sahil confessed that the explosive material was being brought from north Kashmir by an OGW”.
He said another module belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was busted by police in Awantipora.
“Police busted a LeT module of three militants who were planning to carry out a Fidayeen attack on Municipal Committee Building in Pampore,” the IGP said, adding the required equipment for the IED was again being transported from north Kashmir.
“The attack was being planned on the directions of LeT militant Umar Khanday from Pampore, who was involved in attack at Bhaghat chowk in Srinagar that left two policemen dead,” he said.
He said police also arrested one Musaib Gojri who revealed that 25 kgs of ammonia has been stored at his house. “This ammonia was to be used in making the IED. The other equipments for the IED were being brought from north Kashmir,” he said.
Answering a question, IGP said forces have conducted several operations to trace ‘sticky bombs’ in the valley.
However, he said so far they have not been able to find any.
“We are redrawing our SOPs. We have also advised general public not to leave their vehicles unattended,” Kumar said.
The GIP said forces have been out on high alert following inputs about presence of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Abbas in Srinagar.
“Police has received information that Abbas is currently in Chanapora in uptown Srinagar. We have put our jawans on high alert and active vigil is being maintained in the city,” he said.
He said forces are prepared to tackle any eventuality and foil any plan of militants to carry out attacks by preemptive measures.
Answering a question, the IGP said that frisking has been intensified in the city to prevent militants from roaming around freely. “The frisking is targeted and it takes only few minutes to complete the exercise”.
Kumar said killing of Al-Badar chief Gani Khawja in an encounter is a major success for forces and a big jolt to militancy as he was instrumental in reviving the militant outfit in the valley, including recruiting youth, planning attacks and receiving new groups from across the LoC.
“The killing of Khawja is a major success for security forces because he is the one, who on the behest of Pakistan activated Al-Badar in 2020. He succeeded in recruiting many youth in the militant ranks. All the militants belonging to Al-Badar, who were killed in recent encounters, were recruited by him,” he said.
He said Khawja was responsible for receiving militant groups from across the border in Kupwara district and transport them to safe places in north and south Kashmir. “He was also expert in providing logistic support and creating policy, including identification of targets”.
