*Massive hunt for cop killers
Adil Lateef
Srinagar, May 3: In third incident of its kind during last 24 hours in South Kashmir, militants today broad daylight raided two banks in Pulwama district and decamped with cash worth lakhs of rupees. Following these twin incidents, police claimed that Lashkar-e-Toiba is involved in these robberies and said they have identified three of its militants behind today’s bank raids on whom heads it also announced cash reward.
Briefing reporters, Superint-endent of Police (SP) Rayees Bhat said, in the afternoon today, a group of five militants entered Ellaquai Dehati Bank Wahibugh, which is some 8-10 kilometers away from Pulwama town. “First they threatened some shopkeepers there and kept them hostage. And after this, they entered into the bank where they harassed bank employees at gunpoint and also beat them,” he said.
Sources said that the militants had arrived in the car. The SP said that the militants fled with 4.92 lakh rupees from Ellaquai Dehati Bank at Wahibugh and they concluded the raid in around 3-4 minutes. The militants, before the arrival of security forces, managed to escape from the village in the same car.
The SP said that after some two-and-a-half hours, another bank, a local unit of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, was looted at Nehama village of Kakapora area in Pulwama district. “Five militants were also involved in it. Four militants barged into the bank and another was with the car. From there, they decamped around Rs. 1.49 lakh rupees,” he said.
The SP Pulwama district, which is on edge since past year, said so far, the name of LeT has come to fore before police during its investigation. The SP while referring to today’s robberies, said: “The name of Majid Mir of Kakapora, in particular has come to fore, we have identified him. Some other people with him were masked but one militant from Padgampora (Awantipora) namely Shabir Dar, he too has been identified. It clarifies that Lashkar was behind these robberies.”
A statement issued later in the evening by police said that another militant namely Arif Dar alias Rehan alias Arif Manager of Lelhar village of Kakapora in Pulwama district is also involved in today’s bank robberies. “FIRs under relevant section of law have been registered in this regard. Arif Dar was earlier involved in 3 other bank robberies last year along with foreign terrorists Abu Ismail and Abu Ali (now killed),” the statement said. “Anyone giving any information or clue leading to the neutralization of these terrorists shall be rewarded,” the police announced.
Only yesterday, the gunmen had looted Ellaquai Dehati Bank at Kadder in neighbouring Kulgam district. On Monday this week, Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed five policemen and two bank guards at Pumbai in Kulgam district after intercepting a cash van of Jammu and Kashmir Bank. However, the driver of the vehicle was spared. Gunmen, who police said are militants, have carried out over a dozen robberies in South Kashmir banks since November last year after demonetization.
The SP Pulwama said as far as police investigation into previous armed bank robberies is concerned, “it is clear that militant organizations are cash starved”. “In the beginning, militants were using nominal phones costing 8 to 10 thousand but today they are using i-phones and other high end phones because they think they have security and it is also fashion statement, so they are moving ahead with these two things,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have identified the militants responsible for the killing of 5 cops and 2 bank officials in Shopian district of South Kashmir on Monday and are circulating thousands of posters in the area announcing cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for the information that leads to their arrest or killing.
A senior Police officer said that two militants who were responsible for killings have been identified as Omar Majid of village Such in district Kulgam and Ishfaq Pala an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Hizbul Mujahideen.
The officer said that through posters they want to inform the people about the killers and sought their help for their arrest or killing. He said that a massive hunt has been launched against these militants. “We will get them soon”, he added.
In the meantime, Police today said that a group of 12 militants took part in looting of weapons from policemen guarding the District Court Complex in Shopian last night.
A senior officer said that 12 militants of Hizbul Mujhideen took part in the looting and some of them have been identified as Mugais from Srinagar, Zahid from Ganowpora, Samir Tiger from Drubgam Pulwama, Nasir from Heff Shopian, Umar from Malikgund Kulgam, Akhtar Aalam from Reasi in Jammu region and a Pakistani militant.
Militants last night snatched 5 service rifles (four INSAS and one AK 47) from policemen guarding the District Court Complex in Shopian.
The five policemen have been suspended for dereliction of duty and showing no resistance to the militants. “Departmental action has been initiated against the policemen,” an official said.
The incident follows a day after five policemen and two private guards of JK Bank when militants ambushed a cash van in Kulgam district. The militants decamped with four rifles of the slain cops.
And police today claimed that Lashkar-e-Toiba militant organization is behind the killing of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Pulwama district president, Advocate Abdul Gani Dar.
SSP Pulwama Rayees Bhat told reporters today that two militants involved in the killing of Dar have been identified. “The militants have been identified as Majid Mir alias Abbas and Ashraf Dar. These two were involved in the killing of Dar,” he said.
Dar was killed on April 24 near Pahoo in Pulwama district after militants shot him thrice in his chest. He was hailing from Rohmoo in Pulwama and was on way to Srinagar when intercepted by militants near Pahoo. The SSP said that they have also made some arrests in connection with Dar’s killing.
A police spokesman said that on April 24, PDP District president Abdul Gani Dar was brutally killed by militants near Pahoo, Pulwama. “A case was registered bearing FIR No 139/2017 in PS Pulwama. During the course of investigation it has been found that active Lashkar e Toiba terrorists, Majid Mir alias Abbas of Kakapora and Ashraf Dar of Bagh e Trich, Pulwama assisted by one OGW namely Shakir Gogjoo alias Shakir Pujj of Kakapora, were involved in the killing. Shakir is since missing and is believed to have joined LeT”, he said.
A white colour Tavera bearing registration No JK13C- 0702 was used for the commission of the crime. The vehicle has been seized and its owner, Aslam Malik, has been arrested.
The spokesman said one Bashir Ahmad had provided the information to terrorists regarding the movement and details of vehicle used by the deceased. He has also been arrested. “Further investigation and hunt for these terrorists is going on. Anyone giving any information or clue leading to the neutralization of these terrorists shall be rewarded”, he added.
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