Militant, 2 others held

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 11: Police today arrested one Al-Badr militant along with his two associates during a cordon and search operation in Warpora area of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district while body of a militant was recovered from a river in Budgam.
A joint team of 22 RR of Army, 179 Batallion of CRPF, SOG and police busted Al-Badr module, who were involved in a grenade throwing incident at Police Post Warpora Sopore.
Police spokesman identified the arrested militant as Ishfaq Ahmad Pandith, son of Rayees Ahmad Pandith of Bunpora Dangerpora Sopore, adding that his two associates identified as Abdul Majeed Dar, son of Abdul Rashid Dar and Mubashir Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar, both residents of Dangerpora Sopore were also arrested.
He further said that a case under FIR number 237/2020 has been registered in Police Station Sopore. More arrests are expected in the case, he said, adding that further investigation is in progress.
Police also said that they foiled a grenade attack and arrested two persons at Najibhat crossing in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district today.
Police said that on a specific intelligence input that a grenade attack was being planned in the general area of Baramulla, the joint nakas were laid by Police Station Baramulla, 52 RR, 53 CRPF and 176 CRPF at various places including Kralhar, Pattan, Kreeri Market and Najibhat Crossing Kreeri.
Police said that in the afternoon, two persons approaching Najibhat crossing were asked to stop. “On being asked to stop, they tried to flee and were challenged by the security forces and subsequently captured,” police said.
The duo, as per police, were identified as Muhammad Yaseen Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Bhat of Check Tapper and Wasid Ashraf Sofi, son of Muhammad Ashraf Sofi of Watergam Kreeri.
“Further on their personal frisking, one grenade was recovered from their possession. On preliminary questioning, they revealed that they are affiliated with the militant organization Lashkar-e-Toiba and were working under the command of Pakistan based LeT Commander Abid Qayoom of Andergam Pattan,” police said.
In this instance, police said that a case under FIR number 92/2020 of Police Station Kreeri stands registered under the relevant provisions of the law and further investigation is underway
And the dead body of a militant who was injured during the encounter early this week at Kawoosa village in district Budgam was recovered last night by security forces from Sukhnag Nallah.
The militant was injured in a brief shoot out in the village and had jumped into Sukhnag Nallah in order to escape from the encounter site.
Security forces on Monday, cordoned of Kawoosa village after inputs about presence of militants in the village. Militants during the search operation fired upon the search party which was retaliated. However, after a brief gunfight, one militant who was injured escaped from the spot and jumped into Sukhnag Nallah.
Following the escape, a search operation was launched by Budgam Police, 2RR of Army and 44 Battalion of CRPF. The services of Marine Commandos and river police were also pressed into service and the search operation continued for four days.
Security forces last night recovered body of the militant from Sukhnaag Nallah at Kawoosa village. One hand grenade, one pistol, one AK magazine, AK rounds, two mobile phones, a knife and other materials were also recovered. The militant has been identified as Aqib Lone from Aglar, Shopian affiliated with LeT.
“All the recovered incriminating materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other terror crimes”, Police said.
Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead body has been sent to Baramulla for burial purposes after all medico-legal formalities.

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