Srinagar: Four ‘hybrid’ militants and two associates were arrested by police in Srinagar’s Bemina area and Pulwama district’s Awantipora on Tuesday, officials said.
“Acting on a specific tip off about the presence of (militants) in the general area of Bemina, a checkpoint was laid by police and army’s 2RR at Bemina Crossing. Two individuals approaching the checkpoint in a suspicious manner were challenged by the joint party on which they tried to flee. However they were tactfully apprehended by the joint party,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
The apprehended individuals identified themselves as Tawoos Rasool Gada son of Ghulam Rasool Gada and Saleem Jan Bhat son of Mohammad Ashraf Bhat of Usmanabad opposite Degree College Bemina, he said. “On their personal checking, one Chinese Tokarev Type 54 Pistol, one magazine and ten Chinese rounds each were recovered from their possession,” he said, adding, “On basis of their initial questioning, the individuals disclosed that they were working as hybrid (militants) of TRF/LET and were involved in delivering pistols in the city to carry out targeted killings at the behest of Pakistani Handlers.”
On basis of the disclosures made by the two individuals, he said, a cordon and search operation was launched at Hamdania Colony Srinagar and two more associates of the module identified as Abdul Hameed Rah alias Ali son of Ghulam Rasool Rah and Sajad Ahmed Marazi son of Khursheed Ahmed Marazi, both residents of Hamdania Colony Bemina, Srinagar were arrested.
“During checking two more Tokarev T54 pistols, two magazines and ten Chinese rounds were recovered from their possession,” police said, adding, “A case under the relevant provisions of law has been registered in Police Station Bemina and further investigation taken up.”
Meanwhile in Awantipora, he said, acting on specific information, police alongwith army’s 50RR at a checkpoint established at Befina Chowk Pampore arrested two militant associates linked LeT. They have been identified as Arshid Ahmed Mir son of Farooq Ahmed Mir resident of Check Satoora Tral and Muzaffar Ahmad Chopan son of Khazir Mohmmad Chopan of Khanmoh Srinagar.
“Incriminating materials including two hand grenades were recovered from their possession,” he said, adding, “During preliminary questioning, the arrested duo disclosed that they had received these grenades from an active (militant) of LeT namely Saqib Ahmad of Khanmoh and were tasked to lob them on security forces in the area. “
He said a case (FIR number 51/2022” under “relevant sections” of law has been registered at police station Pampore and further investigation into the matter is in progress.
