Militant’s arrest puts focus on open border again
The arrest of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militant Nasir Ahmad Wani (34) by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) In Maharajganj has again shifted the focus to the porous IndiaNepal border.
Superintendent of police (Maharajganj) Pramod Kumar said the district police sounded an alert on the India-Nepal border after one of the associates of Wani managed to flee.
The district police, in coordination with the SSB, have launched a manhunt for the militant who might be hiding in the border area. The district police are also in contact with the Nepal police to maintain vigil on the activities of anti-national forces in the Himalyan nation, he said.
A local court has sent Wani to judicial custody. The district police will move a petition in court on Tuesday for police custody of the militant who was assigned the task of making fresh recruitment for the terror group. A Jammu and Kashmir police team will visit Maharajganj to interrogate Wani who is wanted for unlawful activities, he said.
Deputy inspector general, SSB, DS Chauhan said the SSB had increased vigil on the border. The UP Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) would probe the Wani case, he said.
A police officer said security agencies were on alert after a former Pakistan army officer Lieutenat Colonel (retd) Mohammad Habib Zahir went missing after landing at Bhairahwa airport on way to Lumbini near India- Nepal border in April.
The mysterious disappearance of the senior army officer who worked for the Pakistan spy agency ISI has sent security agencies in a tizzy. Sources said Indian intelligence agencies were in contact with their counterparts in Nepal to know the whereabouts of the officer and his mission.
Taking advantage of the porous border, terror operatives slip into India to carry out their nefarious activities, the police officer said.
In 2015, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Mohammad Irfan (50) was arrested by a special cell of the Delhi Police in Bahraich near the international border.
A police officer said the arrest of Wani clearly indicated that terrorists were active on the India- Nepal border. They not only used Nepal as safe hideout but also entered India to carry out their nefarious activities, the officer said.
Another police officer posted in east UP said, “Last year, several Kashmiri militants, who wished to surrender, landed in Nepal and went to Jammu and Kashmir after crossing the border.” In August 2013, top Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi were arrested near the India- Nepal border.
A police officer said according to the information provided by National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) Yasin and Asadullah were allegedly planning to carry out terror attacks at various spots in Uttar Pradesh. They were hiding in Nepal. The ISI had been using the porous border to pump fake Indian currency, arms and narcotics through its agents, he said.
Similarly, Abdul Karim Tunda of the Lashkar-e-Taiba was arrested on August 16, 2013 from the India Nepal border (Banwasa-Mehendarnagar area). On July 26 2013, the UP special task force had arrested a suspected ISI operative and fake currency racket kingpin Imran Ahmed Teli aka Aftab in Lucknow when he was trying to return to Nepal.
A home department officer said the superintendents of police of Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri and Pilibhit districts on the border were directed to monitor the activities of suspicious persons.
A COP SAID SECURITY AGENCIES WERE ON ALERT AFTER A FORMER PAK ARMY OFFICER WENT MISSING AFTER LANDING AT BHAIRAHWA AIRPORT ON WAY TO LUMBINI NEAR INDIANEPAL BORDER IN APRIL.