Hybrid ultra arrested in Bandipora; terrorist associate held in Budgam
STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district on Wednesday, police said, adding the operation site was very close to Amarnath Yatra route.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Nawapora in Mir Bazaar area of Kulgam following information about presence of terrorists there, a police official said.
The official said the search operation turned into an encounter in which two terrorists were killed.
“Both the killed #terrorists have been identified as #categorised local terrorists of proscribed #terror outfit LeT. Again an important #encounter as the operation site was very close to NHW (#Yatra route),” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar tweeted.
Giving details of the operation, another police official said a joint party of police and army was searching suspected areas along national highway near Mir Bazaar when they came across some suspicious movement in nearby orchard.
“They cordoned the area during which the party came under terrorist fire which was retaliated and an encounter started. The operation concluded in which two terrorists have been killed. They were identified as Yasir Wani and Raees Manzoor,” the official said.
Yasir, wanted in many cases of violence, was an old terrorist belonging to LeT and became active in 2020, he said, adding that Raees joined terrorist ranks just two months ago. IGP Kashmir congratulated the joint teams for conducting the operation in professional manner without collateral damage. He also termed the operation as a big success as the operation site was very close to National Highway.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK-47 rifle and a pistol were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated.
Meanwhile, In Bandipora, acting on specific input, Police along with Army (14RR) and CRPF (3rdBn) at a joint checkpoint established at Papchan area of Bandipora arrested one hybrid terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT alongwith 01 Chinese Grenade which he had kept inside dicky of his Scooty, bearing registration number JK15A-0839. He has been identified as Mehboob-ul-Inam alias Farhaan son of Inam-ul-Haq Shah resident of Nadihal Bandipora.
During interrogation, he disclosed that on the directions of proscribed terror outfit LeT he has made a hideout inside his shop at Nadihal Market where LeT terrorists namely Hyder alias Abu Muslim, Abu Ismail alias Faisal, Abu Hamza Okasha and Gulzar alias Faizan used to stay. Furthermore, he also confessed that they had kept Arms and Ammunition inside the said hideout, which they were planning to provide to new recruits from North Kashmir particularly youths from District Bandipora to strengthen the LeT Cadre and to enhance terrorist related activities.
Subsequent to his disclosure, the hideout was busted and huge cache of arms and ammunition including three AK-47 rifles, 10 AK Magazines, 380 AK live rounds, three Pouches, two YSMS Set, two boxes of Detonator were recovered. Case has been registered and further investigation is in progress.
In a related development, Police in Budgam have arrested one more terrorist associate of proscribed terror outfit LeT in connection with case FIR No. 116/2022 of Police Station Chadoora pertaining to busting of Narco terror funding module. He has been identified as Showkat Ahmed Ganie alias RK son of Late Mohammad Kamal Ganie resident of Shiekhpora Wathoora, Chadoora.
During the investigation of the said case, it came to fore that the arrested terrorist associate was also involved in providing logistic support to proscribed terror outfit LeT by distributing proceeds of narcotics to active terrorists and terror operatives of the outfit. Further investigation into the case is going on, according to a police handout.
