On 23 December, the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the security forces busted a module of the proscribed Islamic terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and arrested its five Islamic terrorists in the Kupwara district.
“On a specific input, Police along with Army (17JAK Rifles) launched a joint search operation in the forest area of Dardsun village, Kralpora. During the search operation, three terrorist associates of proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen were arrested,” the J&K police said in a statement.
“Based on this information, a joint team of police and army nabbed three terror associates Abdul Rouf Malik, Altaf Ahmad Payer, and Riyaz Ahmad Lone. During questioning, they disclosed the location of two hideouts built for Hizbul terrorists on their instructions of Pakistan-based handler Farooq Ahmad Pir alias Nadeem Usmani of Kakroosa in Kupwara, who is presently based in POK,” the police stated, adding that both the hideouts have been busted.
“One AK rifle, two AK magazines, 119 AK ammunition, one pistol, one pistol magazine, four pistol rounds, six hand grenades, one IED, two detonators, as many wire bundles, and one water tank have been recovered from the hideouts,” the police added.
“The trio had received ₹6 lakhs in June, which was meant to procure material for the construction of hideouts and buying arms and ammunition. Of the said amount, ₹64,000 has also been seized,” the police said.
Two more Islamic terrorists– Abdul Majeed Beigh of Budgam and another from Bandipora — have been detained for actively supporting the trio in their activities.
“They (the above two) were being handled by one more handler, Fayaz Geelani of Budgam, who is presently based in POK. The arrested group, in addition to providing logistic support, arms, ammunition, and other facilities for the commission of terror activities, was also tasked to select targets for terrorists in the Valley and ‘radicalise’ more youths to join their ranks,” the police added.
The arrested Islamic terrorists have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and a case has been registered at the Kralpora police station against them for further investigation.
