Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 9: Deputy Inspector General of Police for South Kashmir range, Atul Goel, today said that the weapon that was recovered last evening from a truck at Jawahar Tunnel in Kulgam district was meant to recruit new youth into militancy.
“Joint teams of security forces along with police stopped a truck and recovered huge quantities of arms and ammunition including US-made M-4 carbine and AK-47, besides six Chinese pistols. The pistols were seemingly meant for recruiting new people into militancy,” Goel said addressing a press conference at Amno, SOG camp at Kulgam district of South Kashmir.
The police have so far been able to contain the local militant recruitment after it witnessed a sharp rise earlier. “We will not allow the recruitment to gain ground again,” he said.
Asked about the arrests made and whether weapon consignment was meant to be delivered in South Kashmir, the DIG said that two people including the driver of the truck and the co-driver have been arrested and a special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to find out for whom the weapons were meant to be delivered.
“Prima facie it looks like that the pistol consignment was meant for recruitment new youth. Investigations are on and more details will come to fore,” he said.
In the meantime, Police in Kupwara arrested a youth who was being lured into militancy.
Police said that they received a reliable information that one Altaf Ahmed Bhat son of Ali Mohammad Bhat of Kanthpora, Sogam had come in contact with Hizbul Mujahideen militants and was being lured to join their ranks.
“However, anticipating that he might face the law for his unlawful actions, the youth absconded from his home. The strenuous efforts were made with cooperation from his family and police was successful in tracing and apprehending him”, police said.
“During sustained questioning, it came to fore that he was in touch with recently killed Hizbul Mujahideen militant Commander Hyder through social media while the latter was motivating him to join their ranks,” police said.
He disclosed that he was in possession of grenade which was given to him to be lobbed against security forces as a test for joining militant ranks.
“Last night, Kupwara police and 47 RR Army recovered the grenade hidden by him from a nearby nalla in presence of Magistrate. In this regard a case FIR no 126/2020 u/s 7/25 Arms Act, Ss.13, 18, 39 UAPA at PS Sogam has been registered. Further investigation in the matter is on”, police said.
And two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men were injured in Lal Chowk area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district this evening.
Militants lobbed a grenade on CRPF party of 40 battalion CRPF in Lal Chowk area of Anantnag, resulting in injuries to two CRPF men. Both were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. The area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers. The two injured were identified as Chander Pal and Suneel Kumar of 40 battalion.
Both the injured CRPF men are stable and were discharged from the GMC Anantnag. Police and CRPF have launched a massive cordon and search operation in the area to nab the attackers.
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