Srinagar, Feb 24: The police on Thursday claimed to have arrested three militants, among them two ‘hybrid,” and a militant associate from two different places in Kashmir.

The police said it arrested two ‘Hybrid’ militants of Lashkar-i-Toiba (LeT) outfit in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

In a statement, the police said that two hybrid militants idenfied as Muzammil Ahmad Sheikh son of Mohammad Ramzan Sheikh resident of Chakloo Baramulla and Mohammad Yaseen Sofi son of Ghulam Nabi Sofi resident of Chakloo who were missing since 16th of this month have been recovered by joint team of Police and security forces.

The statement further stated that on the basis of their disclosures two Chinese Pistols, two magazines and 12 pistol rounds were recovered from Chakloo area. The operation was launched jointly by Police along with Army’s 32 RR, CRPF 53 Bn and SSB 2nd Bn.

During sustained questioning of both the hybrid militants it was revealed that they were in contact with handlers of LeT outfit across and on their directions they left their homes on 16th February to join LeT militant outfit and they were tasked to carry out attack on security forces and soft targets in coming days, they said.

They have been arrested and a case FIR No. 31/2022 has been registered in Police station Baramulla under relevant sections of UAPA and Arms Act. Their involvement in other terror acts is being investigated. Security forces are committed to prevent youth from joining terrorist ranks and maintain peace in the area especially in North Kashmir, reads the statement.

In another incident, Police said that they have arrested a active LeT militant along with a militant associate in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

In a statement, the police said that acting on specific information about presence of militants in Aarath area of Budgam, Police along with 2RR arrested an active militant of outfit LeT identified as Yasir Mushtaq son of Mushtaq Ahmed and a militant associate identified as Irfan Bashir son of Bashir Ahmed Dar both residents of Allahpora Budgam. Incriminating materials of outfit LeT, arms & ammunition including 01 Chinese grenade, 01 AK Magazine and 30 AK rounds were recovered from their possession.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested militant had joined militancy folds recently and the arrested militant associate was providing the logistic support to him.

Accordingly, a Case vide FIR No. 44/2022 under relevant sections of laws has been registered at Police station Budgam and further investigation into the matter is in progress, reads the statement