Baramulla: Baramulla Police on Monday said to have arrested three hybrid “militants” of LeT involved in the killing of Sarpanch in Goshbugh pattan on 15 April.
Addressing a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla, Rayees Mohammad Bhat said that On 15 Apil 2022, unknown terrorists had fired upon one Manzoor Ahmad Bangroo, sarpanch of Goshbugh B, at Chanderhama orchards in Wussan area of Pattan.
Immediately after the attack searches were launched in the area. On this, FIR no 117/2022 of PS Pattan u/s 302 IPC, u/s 307 IPC, 7/27 Arms Act, 16, 20 UAPA, he said.
He further said that on the basis of various technical and human leads, investigation was vigorously pursued which led to the apprehension of three suspects by a joint team of Baramulla Police and Army’s 29 RR.
Interrogation of the suspects revealed a deeper conspiracy involving an older sleeper cell of LET which was responsible for the grenade attack in Palhallan highway last year. The accused arrested in that case especially the prime conspirator, Mohd. Afzal of Barthipora, Naidkhai, Bandipora and Mehrajuddin Dar of Gund Jehangir, Hajin, Bandipora had already tasked multiple blindsided sleeper cells to identify and attack specific targets to spread terror and chaos. Both these have been found involved in various such web of modules and are already under arrest, he added.
SSP further said that this particular module had been tasked to identify and attack PRIs and other civilians and soft targets for which pistols and ammunition had been provided to the apprehended hybrid militants identified as Noor Mohammad Yatoo S/O Gh Hassan Yatoo, Mohd Rafiq Parray S/O Mohd Akbar Parray and Ashiq Hussain Parray S/0 Ab Rahman Parray all residents of Goshbugh, Pattan.
The three militants divulged the plot which was directed by LeT militants Yusuf Kantru and Hilal Sheikh (killed in Malwah encounter) and exeCuted by recently infiltrated terrorists Gulzar Ganaie (killed in an encounter at Bandipora) and Umar Lone (still active and at large), he added.
SSP said that the investigations further led to the recoveries or arms and ammunition and to a larger web of links between various tanzeems and organisations on which investigation is going on.
03 Chinese pistols, 03 Pistol Magazines, 02 Grenades, 32 Pistol rounds were recovered, SSP said adding that apprehension of the three militants and the recovery of the arms and another sensational case in Baramulla and foiled major terror plots planned in the area.
Interrogation of the apprehended individuals is likely to give further inputs for future counter terrorism operations, he added.
