Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to have arrested five over ground workers associated with Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant outfit who they said carried out the recent grenade attacks in Pampore and Khrew areas of Awantipora. Addressing a press conference here at Awantipora police station, SSP Zahid Malik said that the busting of this module is a major setback to militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad. He claimed that arms and ammunitions have also been recovered from the possession of these Over Ground Workers of Jaish-e-Muhammad. Following a tip-off, Jammu and Kashmir police, army’s 50 Rashtriya Rifles and 110 Bn Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) arrested a Pakistan-trained ex-militant Sajad Ahmad Bhat, son of Ali Mihammad Bhat, a resident of Hergam Wuyan village of Pampore township in Pulwama district, he said.After questioning, he disclosed that he along with other over ground workers were involved in the recent grenade throwing incidents in Pampore and Khrew areas of Pulwama district, he added.
During further probe, four more persons were apprehended along with arms and ammunition from Pampore area, said the official.He identified them as Umar Gani Sheikh S/o Ab Gani Sheikh R/o Drangbal Pampore (Age 26), Jan Mohammad Khanday S/o Ab Rashid Khanday R/o Meech Pampore (Age 30), Owais Ah Bhat S/o Ab Rashid R/o Danak Mohallah Khrew (23) and Muzaffar Hussain Bhat S/o Gh Mohd R/o Tulibagh Pampore (30).”Accordingly a case FIR number 08/2018 under section 18/B, 20,39 ULA (P) act and 02/2018 U/ Ss 307 RPC, 3/5 Exp. sub act stands registered in police station Pampore.Superintendent of police Awantipora, Mohammad Zahid Malik said that JeM which earlier had strong base in Tral was “dislodged” from the area through anti-militancy operations. Many top commanders were killed and many hideouts were busted due to which militants shifted their activities to Khrew, Pampore and Kakapora areas, he said.“During questioning, all the OGWs admitted that they hurled grenades on the instructions of JeM commander Mufti Vikas from Pakistan who replaced slain commander Noor Mohammad Tantray,” he added. (CNS)