3 Hizb militant associates arrested in Kulgam

Srinagar April 26(GNS): Police on Tuesday claimed to have busted a Hizb militant module by arresting three associates of the outfit allegedly involved in killing of Panch in Kulpora area in South Kashmir Kulgam district.

A police spokesperson in a statement to GNS said that on 2 March militants shot dead a Panch namely Mohammad Yaqoob Dar son of Ghulam Mohommad Dar of Kulpora Kulgam. In this regard, a case (FIR No. 27/2022) under relevant sections of law at Police station Kulgam was registered and investigation got conducted through a special investigation team.

During the course of investigation, he said, it was learnt that an active militant of Hizb namely Farooq Ahmad Bhat of Cheki Desend Yaripora had received directions from militant handlers based in Pakistan to target the PRI members of Kulgam. On their directions, he identified the target and gave direction accordingly to active militant namely Raja Nadeem Rather of Ashmuji to execute the militant act with the support of their associates namely Nasser Ahmad Wani of Srandoo,  Adil Manzoor Rather of Ashmuji and Majid Mohammad Rather of Malipora Mirbazar, he said.

The spokesperson further stated that the directions included to conduct reccee of Panch’s presence, arrange transport and provide logistics to execute the militant act.

After strenuous efforts, Kulgam police arrested these militant associates “involved” in this militant crime and also seized two grenades and one pistol with 08 rounds, he said.

“ It is pertinent to mention that the said module is linked with already busted (HM) militant module involved in the killing of sarpanch namely Shabir Ahmad Mir of Audoora Kulgam on 11 March of this year,” he said.

The investigation of the case is going on and based on the investigation more arrests and recoveries are also expected, he said. “Efforts are on to neutralise the militants involved in this heinous crime,” reads the statement.(GNS)