Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 26: Security forces today achieved a major success by arresting four persons who were trying to activate Pakistan based militant outfit, Tehreek-i-Jehad-i-Islami (TJI), in North Kashmir and were tasked to fuel unrest.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Sopore, Harmeet Singh, told Excelsior that they arrested four persons who had recently returned from Pakistan after receiving arms training in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). “They were given money by the TJI and were asked to fuel and sustain the present unrest in Sopore area and make recruitments”, he said.
However, the SP said that they were arrested soon after their arrival from Pakistan and were yet to receive any money or arms from their handlers. He said that the arrest of these four is a major success.
Sources said that Sopore Police, 52 and 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) arrested two persons Gowhar Ahmed Bhat resident of Mir Sahib Baramulla and Hilal Ahmed Gojri resident of Syed Karim Baramulla.
Police said that they are active members of militant organization TJI based in Pakistan. Police said that Gowhar Ahmad Bhat has visited Pakistan in 2008, 2012 and 2016 on passport.
“Gowhar visited Pakistan in 2008 and met TJI commander Waseem Baigh who gave him money and asked him to make recruitment for the outfit. He again visited in 2012 and was asked to make recruitments”, sources said.
Sources said that in July this year, Gowhar took Hilal Ahmad Gojri, Showkat Ali Gazi resident of Sidiq Colony Sopore and Zahoor Ahmed Shagoo resident of Tawheed Bagh Sopore to Pakistan on passport for arms training.
“They met TJI commander Waseem Baigh in Rawalpindi who took them to Muzaffarabad where they were introduced to another commander of Harakat-e-Jehad-e-Islami, Almas Khan. They received 15-20 days training in handling of weapons”, sources said.
Sources said that Gowhar received money from the TJI commander and out of that he gave Rs 20, 000 in Pakistani currency and Rs 30,000 in Indian currency to each of the three people before they were sent back home.
Sources said that four persons were asked to fuel the unrest in Sopore and Baramulla areas of North Kashmir. “They were told that the money and weapons will be delivered to them in Sopore and Baramulla and were asked to make recruitments for TJI and fuel the ongoing unrest in their areas”, they said.
A police statement said that during questioning of Gowhar Ahmad Bhat and Hilal Gojri, names of two more persons Showkat Ali Gazi resident of Sidiq Colony Sopore and Zahoor Ahmed Shagoo resident of Tawheed Bagh Sopore surfaced. “Incriminating documents were recovered from their possession”, he said.
“During questioning the duo revealed that during their visit to Pakistan they received Rs 50000 each and were promised more funds for fueling the current unrest. Both of them have been arrested. In this connection a case has been registered and investigation taken up”, police spokesman added.
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