Two men from PoK working for JeM arrested in Uri: Army

THE TWO WERE CAUGHT IN A JOINT OPERATION BY THE ARMY AND BSF CLOSE TO THE LOC ON SEPTEMBER 21

URI: Security forces have arrested two men from PoK who have been working for Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the Line of Control(LoC) in Uri sector in Kashmir, the Army said on Saturday.

The official said the two men were apprehended in a joint operation by the Army and BSF close to the LoC on September 21. One of the arrested men is believed to have acted as a guide for the four JeM terrorists who attacked an Army base in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday.

“During the investigation, the individuals have revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, a resident of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, a resident of Pottha Jahangir--both in PoK,” the official said.

He said the duo was recruited two years ago by JeM and were guiding militants to infiltrate across the LoC.

The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by the concerned agencies, the official said, adding the two men are now in the custody of the Army and are being interrogated.

The arrested men were initially believed to have told their interrogators that they had inadvertently crossed the LoC.

The arrest comes six days after the deadly attack by fourn heavily armed JeM terrorists in Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed. The four terrorists were also killed in the encounter.

KASHMIR SHUT FOR 78TH DAY

Kashmir remained shut for the 78th consecutive day on Saturday as authorities deployed security forces in Srinagar city and some other places to maintain law and order.

However, there will be no curfew anywhere in the Valley, a senior police official said.

Eighty-seven people have died since the present unrest began on July 9.

A 22-year old youth identified as Waseem Lone of Baramulla district died during firing on Friday. While police said Waseem died when youths resorted to stone pelting at army vehicles passing through the area, locals have alleged he was shot without any provocation while working in the paddy fields.

Some vehicular movement was seen in Srinagar and other major cities although public transport continued to remain off the roads.

Educational institutions, main markets and other businesses have also remained shut.