Srinagar, Mar 14: Inspector General of Police (IGP ) Kashmir range Vijay Kumar Monday said that police have busted the Hizbul Mujahideen module involved in the recent killing of Sarpanch Shabir Ahmed Mir and arrested three militant associates actively involved in the act.

The IGP, tweeted that “#Kulgam Police busted # module of HM out involved in recent #killing of #Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir & arrested 03 # militant associates’ actively involved and recovered #incriminating materials including 02 Pistols on their disclosure. Vehicles used in the commission of crime have also been seized. During #investigation, it was learnt that the Sarpanch was killed by HM # militant Mushtaq Yatoo on the directions of HM Chief militant Farooq Nalli.”

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara Dr G V Sundeep Chakravarthy said that on March 11, militants barged into the residential premises of Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir of Adoora, Kulgam and fired indiscriminately at him.

“He was promptly evacuated to the District Hospital Kulgam where he succumbed to his injuries,” the SSP said, adding that “Taking Cognizance of the Incident, a Case FIR No. 32/2022 u/s 7/27 Arms Act, 13, 16, 18, 20 UAPA was registered in Police Station Kulgam and a Special Investigation Team has been constituted. “

The SSP said that during the course of investigation, it came to surface that the   Active terrorist (HM) namely, Farooq Nali alias Umer received directions from Pakistani handlers to target the Public Representatives of  Kulgam and  identified the target and later  further directed active HM  militants Mushtaq Itoo alias Faizan,  Zubair Sofi alias Farhan to execute the act with the support of their  associates namely– Danish Ahmad Dar R/O Mohanpora, Kulgam, Faisal Hameed Wagay R/O Adoora, Kulgam, Nisar Rashid Bhat R/O Tengpora, Shopian to conduct recce of the Sarpanch’s presence ,to arrange  transport and provide logistics to execute the act.

“With strenuous efforts of Kulgam Police, the three militant associates have been arrested and the vehicles used in the commission of crime have been seized and from their possession incriminating materials including two Pistols, 03 Pistol Magazines, 11 Pistol rounds,2 grenades,01 Magazine of AK 47, and 15 rounds of AK47* have been recovered,” he said, adding that the investigation is going as more arrests and recoveries are expected. “Also massive searches are going on to neutralise the militants involved in this heinous crime,” he said. kno