MAJOR ATTACK AVERTED: POLICE

Ahead of Republic Day, J&K Police “averted a major militant attack” and arrested five Jaish-e-mohammed (JEM) operatives in Srinagar on Thursday, the police said.

SRINAGAR: A major attack ahead of Republic Day was averted with police busting a module of the Jaish-e-mohammad (JEM) and arresting five members of the group involved in recent incidents of terror in the city, police said on Thursday.

A huge cache of incriminating material and explosive substances were also recovered.

VK Birdi, deputy inspector general of police, central Kashmir Range said the five men, who were working towards executing sensational incidents like terror attacks and causing IED explosions, were nabbed in two phases, he said. After a grenade explosion on January 8 near Habak crossing near Hazratbal area of the city, police nabbed two suspects – Ajaz Ahmad Sheikh, a driver by profession, and Umar Hameed Sheikh, a street vendor, both residents of Hazratbal area.

During the investigation, they provided leads to a similar attack near Kashmir University on November 26 last year, he said.

“More raids were conducted and three more persons – Imtiyaz Ahmad Chikla, a sports shop owner, Sahil Farooq Gojri who has a private job and Naseer Mir, a businessman—were arrested,” the DIG said. “The investigation has revealed their motive to enforce shutdown and paralyse normal life in the city and plans to execute terror attack and causing IED explosions,” he said.