Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 24: In a major breakthrough, security forces today arrested one of the assailants who shot and killed a former Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen militant and his three-year old son in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district last week.
Bashir Ahmad Bhat, a former Jamiat militant, was shot at by the gunmen who according to police were associated with a Hizbul Mujahideen splinter group on the evening of September 19 last week outside his home at Segipora in the outskirts of restive Sopore. Bashir was carrying his three year old son, Burhan in his lap and he too was hit by bullets. The duo was referred to hospital but Bashir died enroute while Burhan succumbed on the next day at a hospital in Srinagar.
As reported exclusively by Excelsior, the police had tentatively identified the prime suspect who has now turned out to be a local Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) militant and had got vital clues. Sources had disclosed to Excelsior that two assailants on a bike shot the duo.
While as the prime suspect has been identified now by police, the security forces today in a major breakthrough arrested his accomplice during a raid near Segipora. Sources said the arrest was made during a joint operation by a team of police’s Special Operation Group (SOG) headed by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rafiabad Shabir Ahmad Khan and Army’s 27 Rashtriya Rifles. Sources said the arrested person is a 19-year old student at Sopore Degree College and is a resident of Yunsua area of Sopore.
The sources said that the security forces were continuously conducting searches in Segipora area since the incident took place last week. Sources said that police are questioning the arrested person and more outcomes are expected.
The incident involving killing of three year old had evoked strong reactions from all the sections of society in the Valley. A shutdown was also observed against the incident.
In the meanwhile, the Special Operation Group (SOG) detained three youths over alleged militant links in New Khanda area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
They have been identified as Tanveer Ahmad, Aarif Dar and Aadil Thokar, all residents of Nagbal in Shopian district, and are currently being questioned by SOG at Rajbagh police station here.
Meanwhile, police today claimed that it prevented 15 boys in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district from joining militancy after counseling them.
“Police through reliable sources got the information about the concerted attempts to lure and recruit youth into militancy,” a police spokesman said this evening, adding: “Following this information, police conducted discreet inquiry and apprehended one person.”
The spokesman said the questioning of the apprehended person led to the identification of 14 boys “who were being lured to join militancy”. “During the questioning of these boys, it came to fore that they were planning to join the militant ranks. Incidentally none of their parents was aware about activities of these boys,” the spokesman claimed.
“These boys were subsequently handed over to their parents after proper counseling. Parents and their well wishers have hailed police for saving the future of these boys,” the police spokesman added.
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