Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday claimed to have arrested 06 terrorist associates and recovered IEDs, arms & ammunition, and other incriminating materials from their possession in South Kashmir’s Awantipora.
A Police official said they got specific input that a Pakistan based Kashmiri terrorist of JeM outfit was into process of identification of youth who can be motivated to join terror ranks and after finding such youth, arms / ammunition/explosives was being delivered to these youth to commit terror acts before their formal joining into terror ranks .
“Upon this information, Case FIR No. 108/2024 U/S 13/18 UAPA & 7/25 Indian Arms Act was registered at Police Station Tral”, he said.
He said, “During investigation, the youth who were part of this module were identified. It came to fore that Pakistan based terrorist with the assistance of an OGW in jail identified many youth who were motivated by them to join terror ranks in Tral area of Awantipora and Kulgam district.”
“The youth so identified were provided pistols, grenades, IEDs and other explosive materials to facilitate their joining into terror ranks. Before inducting them into terror ranks, they were instructed to do some terror activity either by target killing, throwing grenades on SFs /Public places , non-local labourers and by laying & detonating IEDs.”
An official said that during investigations, It also came to fore that Pakistan based terrorist handler had chosen some places for planting of IEDs with the assistance of these youth. The terrorist handler has also pumped in some money to carry out the tasks and to procure material for fabrication of more IEDs.
So far 06 terrorist associates have been arrested in the case and from possession and upon disclosures of these accused persons, large quantity of arms /ammunition and explosives including 05 IEDs with remotes, 30 Detonators, 17 Batteries for IEDs, 02 Pistols, 03 Pistol Magazines, 25 live rounds of Pistol, 04 Hand grenades and Cash amount of Rs 20000 have been recovered.
Investigation of case is underway & more arrests and recoveries are likely in the case, he added.