8 militants, OGWs arrested

IGP Jammu Mukesh Singh inspecting arms and ammunition seized from militants in Mendhar on Monday. -Excelsior/ Rahi Kapoor
IGP Jammu Mukesh Singh inspecting arms and ammunition seized from militants in Mendhar on Monday. -Excelsior/ Rahi Kapoor

Bid to revive militancy foiled: IGP

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11: Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh today said Army and police are on alert to foil any attempt of infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir by the militants who have assembled at launching pads across the Line of Control.
Singh along with DIG Rajouri-Poonch range Vivek Gupta was on one-day tour of Mendhar in Poonch district during which he reviewed security situation with Army, Intelligence and Police officers including SSP Jammu Ramesh Angral.
Asserting that attempts are being made to revive terrorism in Poonch, a border district of Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said eight militants and Over Ground Workers of terror groups have been arrested in Mendhar in Poonch district during the last few months.
Large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives have been recovered from their possession.

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The Jammu Police chief examined the recoveries made by police and security forces from the possession of arrested militants and OGWs. He also inter-acted with police and security personnel instrumental in arresting militants and OGWs and effecting recoveries from their possession.
Mukesh Singh said, “We have inputs that militants have assembled in launching pads across (LoC). The Army and police are on alert to foil their designs.”
“The Army and police have jointly achieved success here. They have arrested newly recruited militants and Over Ground Workers arms and ammunition, and explosive material have been seized from them,” he said.
The police officer said that the Mendhar-Poonch border belt has been peaceful for the last 10 to 12 years.
“There was no militant activity in Poonch. New attempts are being made to revive militancy by recruiting youths and smuggling weapons and ammunition,” Singh said.
The IGP informed reporters that plans to target religious places and installations of the security force have been foiled.
“I congratulate the police and Army for defeating the designs of the militants and foiling their plans”, he added.
The IGP Jammu issued directions to the police for keeping sustained vigil and pursuing information given by arrested militants to nab the remaining OGWs, if any, to ensure that the militants are not able to strike.
It may be mentioned here that during past about one month, eight militants and OGWs, all affiliated with newly floated `Jammu and Kashmir Janbaaz Force’ have been arrested by police and security forces, who were directly in contact with a militant commander operating from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), and were planning to target religious places in Mendhar and Balakote.
Further questioning of the arrested militants and OGWs is on and some more arrests are expected, sources said.