Jammu- Asserting that terrorism is at its lowest ebb in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Tuesday said efforts are on to finish residual militancy and also the drug menace from the Union territory.
He said the anti-terrorist operation in south Kashmir’s Kokernag about a fortnight ago was a successful one and there was no change in the peaceful atmosphere in the valley after the gunfight.
“Militancy (in Jammu and Kashmir) has reached its lowest ebb with the contribution of the people. Police and other security forces, who have a lot of contribution (in controlling terrorism), are promise-bound to finish it off and efforts are on in this direction,” the police chief told reporters at Katra in Reasi district.
Accompanied by Additional Director General of Police (Jammu) Mukesh Singh, the DGP dedicated the newly-constructed modular police station to the people at Katra – the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Asked about the gunfight between terrorists and security forces in the forests of Kokernag from September 13 to September 19 that left four security personnel including three officers and two terrorists dead, Singh said there was no change in the peaceful atmosphere in the valley after the incident.
“Prior or after the Kokernag encounter, the situation continues to remain peaceful. People have the misunderstanding that one incident occurred somewhere and will unleash a tornado. We are watchful of movements of terrorist supporters and make attempts to bust their hideouts in the forest.
“Kokernag was one such operation where we had information about the presence of a particular terrorist and went there to neutralize him. Unfortunately, you are not familiar with the location and came under fire from the waiting terrorists, the loss was visible because it is the one who opens fire first has the advantage,” the DGP said.
In this case, Singh said “we were unfortunate that the first fire was taken by our brave officers and the soldiers due to which one colonel, one major, one Deputy Superintendent of Police and one soldier laid down their lives.”
“I salute those officers and jawans who participated in this operation and laid down their lives and neutralized dreaded terrorist Uzair Khan (of Lashkar-e-Taiba) who was very active in the area. This was a successful operation. The chance of loss of life remains there for which we are all grieved but at the same time we are also proud of their contribution and leading from the front,” he said.
Singh said the attempts to revive militancy in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and adjoining Reasi was scuttled to a large extent by the security forces through various successful operations, while attempts are on to neutralize those who have managed to infiltrate into this side.
“We have had back to back successful operations in Reasi and Rajouri in the recent past, resulting in the killing of (several) terrorists,” he said.
About the challenge posed by narco-terrorism, he said the operations against narcotic smugglers were speeded up three times compared to previous years which is evident from the registration of cases, arrest of drug peddlers and busting of narco-terrorism modules.
“It (narcotics) is like a pandemic which is going on for sometime after starting from across the border. Pakistan-based agencies are using it as a tool to fund terrorism (in J&K). We have achieved a lot of success against the menace.
“We have to break all the nexuses and arrest all people, whether they belong to here (J&K) or outside it, associated with it. We are working on this side and are hopeful of rooting out this menace,” Singh said.
2 Women Among Nine Held For Arms Smuggling
A terrorist and eight terror associates, including two women, involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition were arrested in separate operations as security forces unearthed two terror modules in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said on Tuesday.
The terrorist associates were involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition at the behest of Pakistan-based terror handlers and its further distribution to Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists for carrying out terror activities.
Giving details at a press conference in Baramulla, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Baramulla, Amod Nagpure, said on September 21, police, through reliable sources, came to know that Yaseen Ahmad Shah, resident of Janbazpora Baramulla, is missing from his home and has joined proscribed terror outfit LeT/TRF.
TRF or The Resistance Front is the shadow outfit of the LeT.
Nagpure said a case was registered and investigation was taken up.
On receipt of the information, based on human/technical intelligence, during mobile vehicle check-point (MVCP) checking at Tapper Pattan, the security forces apprehended the terrorist on September 22.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including a pistol, a pistol magazine and eight live rounds were recovered from his possession, the SSP said.
During questioning, Shah disclosed the name of his other associate as Parvaiz Ahmad, resident of Takiya Wagoora.
Accordingly, security forces raided his residence and subsequently arrested him, the SSP said.
Upon his disclosure, two hand grenades were also recovered from his possession, he added.
The next day, the SSP said, during the further course of interrogation of the terrorist, and on his disclosure, a pistol, a pistol magazine and eight live rounds were again recovered from his house at Janbazpora.
Shah disclosed the names of his women associates as Nigeena, resident of Vijipora Hajin, and Aafreena alias Aayat, resident of Patpora Shalteng Srinagar and upon their disclosure, two hand grenades were recovered from their possession, Nagpure said.
On Monday, during further questioning of Shah and Ahmad, they disclosed the names of two more associates as Mudasir Ahmad Rather, resident of Takiya Wagoora, and Showkat Ahmad Malik, resident of Wagila Wagoora, the police officer said.
Upon their disclosure, he said, a Chinese grenade, a pistol, a pistol magazine and eight live rounds were recovered from their possession.
The investigation has revealed that the terrorist along with his five associates were operating on the directions from Pakistan-based handlers and were planning to recruit more terrorists and carry out terrorist activities in Baramulla and nearby areas, the SSP added.
A case under sections of UA(P) and Arms Act has been registered and further investigation is going on.
In another operation, the SSP said, a terror module was unearthed with the arrest of three terrorist associates of LeT outfit.
During checking at Paranpeelan Bridge Uri, security forces noticed two suspected persons coming from Dachi towards Paranpeelan Bridge and tried to flee while noticing the naka party, but were apprehended tactfully, Nagpure said.
During their search, two Glock pistols, four pistol magazines, two pistol silencers, five Chinese grenades and 29 live pistol rounds were recovered from them.
They were taken into custody and have been identified as Zaid Hassan Malla, resident of Mir Sahib Baramulla, and Mohammad Arif Channa, resident of Stadium Colony Baramulla.
The police said the terror associates were involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition at the behest of Pakistan-based terror handlers and its further distribution to LeT terrorists for carrying out terror activities.
A case under the Indian Arms Act and UA (P) Act was registered and investigations was taken up.
During the course of investigation, they disclosed the name of their associate as Aftaar Ahmad Lohar, resident of Surankote Poonch, who was subsequently arrested, the SSP said.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
