Srinagar, Mar 10: Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday claimed that Awantipora police along with  forces busted two militant modules of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and arrested seven militant associates.

Besides, police said that huge quantity of explosive material, detonators, grenades were recovered while a Maruti car was also seized.

“Awantipora Police received information that militants of JeM are planning an attack by means of triggering vehicle borne IED in Pampore-Khrew area. Upon this information, police along with 50 RR and CRPF carried out a search in Pampore area,” police said.

“During search, one person was apprehended, who was identified as Sahil Nazir, son of Nazir Ahmad Mir of Drangbal Pampore. During questioning, Sahil Nazir revealed that he was in touch with one Pak based militant commander Khalid Bin Waleed by means of various communication channels. The militant commander Khalid Bin Waleed intends to do some spectacular militant act and then the claim shall be made on behalf of a new militant outfit Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind,” police said.

He further revealed that militant commander Khalid Bin Waleed motivated him to carry out the attack in Pampore area for which he volunteered himself to carry out the attack in the area.

During further questioning, it surfaced that militant commander Khalid Bin Waleed delivered Rs 70,000/= to Sahil Nazir for purchasing a vehicle.

The investigation into the case also revealed that Sahil Nazir tasked his other OGWs/associates namely Kaisar Ahmad Bhat, son of Farooq Ahmad Bhat of Drangbal Pampore to purchase a second hand vehicle.

“Accordingly, the vehicle Maruti 800 bearing registration number JK01E-0690 was purchased from Srinagar. The said vehicle was kept hidden at a safe place at Wuyan in OGW Kaisar’s relative’s house,” police said.

Accordingly, three more militant associates of the module namely Yasir Ali Wani, son of Ali Mohammad Wani of Pampore,  Kaisar Ahmad Bhat, son of Farooq Ahmad Bhat of Drangabal and Mohammad Mounis Fayaz @ Brooj Malik, son of Fayaz Ahmad of Drangabal were arrested with explosive material.

Pertinent to mention that on 25th of January 2021 Sahil Nazir along with Kaisar Ahmad Bhat travelled on Scooty to reach the CRPF Camp (Grid Station Pampore) and lobbed a grenade on CRPF (located at Grid Station Pampore).

However, the grenade did not explode for the reason the pin of the grenade was not properly removed. The said hand grenade was later recovered live from the premises of said camp, police said, adding that the investigation also revealed that Sahil Nazir was supposed to receive other explosive material in the near future.

“Eight electronic detonators and a Chinese hand grenade were recovered from the arrested militant associates. Besides, a Maruti 800 car has also been seized,” police said, adding that a case under FIR number 27/2021 under relevant sections of law stands registered at Police Station Pampore in this regard and further investigation is in progress.

“Similarly, Awantipora police along with security forces have also busted LeT militant module after receiving information that militants of LeT are planning attack by means of triggering an explosive substance in Pampore area,” police said.

Acting on this information, Awantipora Police alongwith 50 RR and CRPF carried out the search operation in Pampore area. During search operation one OGW/associate of LeT namely Musaib Aziz Goojri, son of Abdul Aziz Goojri of Namlabal Pampore was apprehended.

During questioning, Musaib admitted that he was in continuous touch with LeT commander of Pampore Umer Khanday and he has handed a container containing approx. 25 Kgs of explosive material (aluminium powder) to him.

Accordingly, the said container containing approx 25 Kgs of explosive substance was recovered. He further revealed that the explosive material has been kept with him for preparing IED and the other parts of IED were supposed to reach him in near future.

During further course of investigation, two more militant associates of the same module namely Muneeb Mushtaq Sheikh @ Zarar son of Mushtaq Ahmad of Drangbal Pampore and Shahid Ahmad Sofi son of Ghulam Mohammad Sofi of Namblabal Pampore have been arrested along with explosive material, the police said.

As per police records, these arrested militant associates are involved in providing shelter, logistics to the militants of LeT and transporting arms/ ammunition of the militants, police said, adding that a case under FIR number 28/2021 under relevant sections of law stands registered at Police Station Pampore and further investigation is in progress.