LeT Terror module busted in Pulwama, 3 terror associates held
STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday arrested two persons in connection with the Sunday’s grenade attack at busy Amira Kadal Bridge, in the heart of the city, that left two civilians dead and 36 others injured, police said here.
The first accused identified as Mohd Bariq was arrested from Khanyar and his initial examination led to the arrest of the second accused, Fazil Nabi Sofi.
LeT terrorist associate arrested in Baramulla
Srinagar: Security forces have arrested a terrorist associate of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Baramulla district, police said on Tuesday.
Acting on specific information, the security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Nadihal area of Sopore’s Rafiabad, a police spokesman said.
During the search, a terrorist associate of the proscribed LeT was arrested, he said. The arrested has been identified as Firdous Ahmad Wani, a resident of Check Seri Pattan, the spokesman said. Incriminating material, arms and ammunition, including an AK-56 rifle, and 30 bullets were seized, he said. A case has been registered and investigation initiated, the spokesman said.
The two wheeler used in this grenade attack was also seized by the Special Investigation Team which had been formed immediately after the terror strike.
Keeping in view the heinous nature of the case, which created terror, panic and anguish among the masses in whole of Srinagar city, SSP Srinagar Rakesh Balwal constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Lakshay Sharma, SP South and SDPO Kothibagh Shabir Ahmed, SDPO Shaheed Gunj Shri Fayaz Hussain, DySP Faizan Ali, DySP (P) Anzar Shah, SHO PS Shaheed Gunj Insp. Gowhar Hussain and Insp. Taseer Ahmed as members.
The SIT employed modern means of investigation and used technical evidence like minute frame by frame analysis of the CCTV footages of scene of crime, footages of CCTVs in the whole of Srinagar city, Cell Tower dump analysis, IP dump analysis, recreation of crime scene and by examination of some eye witnesses, officials said.
Based on these, the SIT was able to identify the two accused who came on a two wheeler without a number-plate to commit the crime and fled on the same vehicle after committing the terrorist act.
During the intense analysis of the CCTV trail in Srinagar city, the route adopted by both the accused was located back to Khanyar area of the downtown.
It further came out that these two accused had committed the terrorist act on the directions of active terrorists in the Kashmir valley, they said.
The plan was to attack the parked security vehicle but as the grenade was thrown from a moving two-wheeler, the target was missed and the grenade exploded in an adjacent crowded area where many road-side vendors and buyers were present.
It was also found that this particular area was chosen due to the omnipresent chaos and turbulent traffic in this stretch of area due to unorganised vendors and stalls on the road, the officials said.
There have been two other recent grenade attacks in this area — the first one on August 10, 2021 and the second on January 25, 2022.
This act of grenade throwing created terror, panic and anguish among the masses in whole of Srinagar city.
Jammu and Kashmir police also requested all commercial establishments and shops to install CCTV cameras inside and outside of their establishments, according to the advisory issued by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar.
This will act as strong deterrence to all the anti-social elements.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has congratulated Srinagar Police for their strenuous efforts in cracking such heinous case of terror crime on civilians. He also reiterated that the whole terror module involved in the crime will be smashed as soon as possible.
In a related development, Pulwama Police along with 55RR and 182BN CRPF apprehended 03 terrorist associates linked with proscribed terrorist outfit LeT. They have been identified as Amir Nazir Hazar son of Nazir Ahmad Hazar resident of Wagam, Suhail Ahmad Bhat son of Ab Rashid Bhat and Nasir Hussain son of Bashir Ahmad Ganie both residents of Chinar Bagh Pulwama. Incriminating materials, including grenade and 13 rounds of AK 47 were recovered from their possession.
During the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the arrested terrorist associates were acting as associates of terrorist Arif Hazar@ Rehan.
Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Pulwama and further investigation is in progress.
Meanwhile, on receipt of a specific information about extortion activities in the general area of Srinagar, one extortionist identified as Muzaffer Ahmad Rather son of Mohd Altaf Rather resident of Laloo Sheeshgaribagh Humhama Budgam was arrested from Shergarhi area of Srinagar. A small weapon was also recovered from his possession.
He was extorting money from people by instilling fear in them due to possession of this small weapon. In this regard, a case vide FIR number 31/2021 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Shergarhi and investigation was initiated.