Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 3: In a major breakthrough, police in Kashmir foiled a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) plot of a major militant attack when they arrested a militant associate of the outfit who was working in a five-star hotel as a driver.
Police last week arrested Farooq Ahmad Wani son of Abdul Rashid Wani, resident of Wagoob Hygam, Baramulla district from a five start hotel in Kashmir where he was working as a driver.
A senior police official told Excelsior that during the interrogation it was found that he was in touch with his handlers across in Pakistan and had sent pictures and other details of some of the 5-star hotels of Kashmir where high profile guests including Union Ministers and other top leaders and senior officials stay.
The plot has been foiled ahead of G20 group meeting in Srinagar that is being held from May 22 to May 24 and the officer said that it is a major success.
A grenade was recovered from his possession and he is being questioned and police is working on the leads provided by him.
He said that the security has been further tightened around the hotels in Srinagar and other places ahead of the G20 meet as there is serious input about possible militant strike in Kashmir.
It may be mentioned here that only yesterday, Additional Director General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, took a security review meeting in Srinagar during which a special focus was laid on the emerging threat of Vehicle Based Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) and other modes of potential militant attacks including Fidayeen.
Sensing the gravity of the threat after audacious attack in Poonch last month on Army and the presence of a militant in 5-star hotel, elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and National Security Guards (NGS) are being placed for the security of G20 Group meeting in Srinagar.
The official said that the hotel management had no knowledge about the driver having militant links. He further said that Wani had developed links several months after working in the hotel.
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