6 LeT OGWs arrested from Srinagar

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 23:  Police achieved a major success by arresting six Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in Tengpora area of Srinagar while Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector today.
Acting on a specific information, Srinagar police had laid a naka at Tengpora bypass on Thursday evening and as a vehicle in which they were travelling approached the naka, it stopped and the persons boarding the vehicle fled leaving behind the vehicle.
Police chased and arrested them along with an AK-47 and other war like stores. They also seized two vehicles in which they were travelling. Police questioned them and was trying to trace out the group from North Kashmir which they were meeting.
The arrested OGWs have been identified as Mastan Sirul Saba son of Mohammad Maqbool Dar of Loogra Pulwama, Ishfaq Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Rashid Dar of Kakpura, Pulwama, Arif Ahmad Dar son of Mohammad Usman  Dar of Loogra, Pulwama, Masrat Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Salam Dar of Loogra Pulwama and Nisar Ahmad Lone son of Nazir Ahmad Lone of Ratanpura Pulwama.
A Police officer termed their arrest as a major success as the members were scheduled to meet their counterparts in North Kashmir. Police have registered a case and started further investigations.
In the meantime, security forces today conducted searches in Tankipora area of Srinagar near Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Srinagar. However, no one was arrested.
Security forces also conducted searches in Shalteng area of Srinagar after inputs about presence of militants in the area. However, during searches residents pelted stones at the security forces leading to clashes. The search  operation was later called off.
And in Machil sector of Kupwara district, Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) killing one militant while operation is going on.
Sources said that troops in Macchil near the LoC noticed suspicious movement of some infiltrators and immediately challenged them. The militants opened fire on the troops leading to a fierce gun battle in which one militant was killed.
More troops were rushed to the area and a major search operation is going on in the forest area near the LoC as Army believes that 3-4 militants are still in the area.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that an infiltration bid was foiled in Machil sector today. “One terrorist has been killed. The operation is in progress”, he said.
Army along the LoC is on heightened alert as militants are desperate to sneak during the summer. Army sources said that over 250 militants are waiting on the launching pads along the LoC in PoK.