Kashmir Operations Lead to Eight Arrests, Arms Recovery
Security forces have apprehended eight alleged terror associates and recovered arms, ammunition, and other material during multiple operations in different districts of Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday. The operations, carried out in Shopian, Pulwama, and Baramulla districts, involved personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
In Shopian district, police reported two separate operations. In the Heerpora area, a motorcycle was intercepted at a checkpoint, leading to the apprehension of three individuals. Two hand grenades and incriminating posters were recovered from their possession, police said. In a separate operation in the Imam Sahib area, joint patrolling led to the apprehension of three more individuals. A personal search yielded one hand grenade, two AK-47 magazines, 20 rounds of ammunition, and incriminating posters, according to police.
In Pulwama district, a joint operation led to the apprehension of two alleged terror associates in the Yarwan forest area. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the general Yarwan forest area. During the operation, joint teams noticed two individuals emerging from the forest in a suspicious manner and apprehended them, police said. The two were identified as Latif Ahmad Deedad and Aejaz Ahmad. One pistol, 12 pistol rounds, and one hand grenade were recovered from them, and both were taken into custody along with the recovered items.
In Baramulla district, an Army operation in the Manzseer area of Sopore recovered an AK-series rifle, three magazines, four grenades, ammunition, and other war-like stores, according to the Tribune's report.
Specifics of Arrests and Recoveries
Details of the arrests in the three operations were reported by the two news organisations covering the story. According to the Free Press Journal, acting on a tip-off in an orchard at Imamsahib in Shopian district, security forces recovered one grenade, two AK magazines, four mobile phones, and posters of a banned terror outfit from the orchard belonging to Nazir Ahmad Wani. Three suspected overground workers were identified as Ashiq Hussain Kumar, Arif Kumar, and Harris Manzoor.
In a separate operation in Shopian district late Monday night, officials said three motorcycle-borne individuals were taken into custody after a search led to the recovery of two hand grenades and incriminating material linked to the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit. The three were identified as Junaid Ahmad Dar, Amir Yousuf, and Junaid Muzaffar.
Police described the recovery in Pulwama as a significant operational success in the ongoing efforts to disrupt terror networks. The arrests underline the continuing efforts by security forces to disrupt suspected terror networks before they can pose a wider security threat, as reported by the Free Press Journal.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Investigators will seek to ascertain the suspects' activities, establish the source of the recovered arms and ammunition, and identify further linkages, according to the Free Press Journal.