Police on Monday claimed to have busted a module, which was tasked by handlers in Pakistan to revive Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit in north Kashmir region, by arresting six persons and recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition in Keran sector near Line of Control (LoC) of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.“Acting on credible information regarding illegal delivery of arms and ammunitions by some anti-national elements near district hospital Sopore, a special team including Sopore Police, 22RR and CRPF was constituted,” a police spokesman said in a statement.The special team was able to arrest four individuals identified as Ahtisham Farooq Malik resident of Mumkak Mohalla Batpora Sopore, Shafqat Ali Tagoo of Jalalabad Sopore, Nisar Ahmad Ganai of Pujipora Krankshivan Sopore and Musaib Hassan Bhat of Mumkak Mohalla Batpora Sopore, the spokesman said.Incriminating materials including 01 pistol and 12 hand grenades were recovered from their possession, he said.
“During questioning, the arrested persons revealed that they were in contact with Pakistani based LeT handler who deputed them to recruit local youth for militant activities in Sopore area. They further revealed that they have received arms and ammunition from one person identified as Kabir Lone resident of Keran of Tikker Kupwara. The accused was arrested and lead to the apprehension of another person identified as Sharafat Khan of Keran Kupwara,” the spokesman said.As per the investigations, the main purpose of the group was to revive proscribed outfit LeT, to accumulate arms and ammunition for arming newly recruited militants and to go for target killings in order to terrorize the general public, the spokesman said.“On the disclosure of Sharafat Khan, a joint police party from Police District Sopore and District Kupwara along with 6RR conducted searches in Keran area of Kupwara and recovered incriminating materials besides arms and ammunition including 08 AK rifles, 25 AK Magazines, 750 AK rounds, 09 pistols, 16 pistol magazines, 351 pistol rounds, 77 grenades and 21 detonator fuses,” the spokesman said.A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation into the matter is in progress, he said. (GNS)