Keran encounter: 3 of 5 terrorists were locals, reveals probe

THE NEEDLE OF SUSPICION FOR RADICALIZING THESE YOUTH POINTS AT GHULAM NABI KHAN, WHO IS DEPUTY LEADER OF HIZBUL MUJAHIDEEN AND BASED IN POK

NEW DELHI: Investigations into April 5 Keran sector encounter have revealed that at least three out of five terrorists gunned down by Indian special forces belonged to J&K who had gone missing since 2018 for training in Pakistan. Five AK-47 rifles, grenades, GPS and wireless set were recovered from the encounter site at Shalbatoo, Jumgund area of Keran sector, Kupwara in Kashmir. The group had infiltrated across the Line of Control (LOC) on April 1 from Qasim-ii post in Occupied Kashmir and were encountered while enroute to Gulab Post of Indian Army.

According to security agencies, the three identified terrorists are : Sajjad Ahmad Hurrah of Daramdora, Shopian; Aadil Hussain Mir of Mallapora, Liver, Anantnag and Umar Nazir Khan of Liver, Anantnag. The J&K Police records show that missing reports were filled in case of both Sajjad and Aadil. It was revealed that both left for Pakistan separately via Attari-wagah border with Sajjid crossing over on April 12, 2018 and Aadil later on April 27, 2018. Travel history of Umar Nazir, who belonged to the same village as Aadil, is being probed but the needle of suspicion for radicalizing these youth towards terrorism points at Ghulam Nabi Khan, who is currently deputy leader of Hizbul Mujahideen and based in Pakistan Occupied

Kashmir. Nabi Khan also belongs to Liver Village in Anantnag.

Even though the corona virus spread is going unchecked in Pakistan with cases in Punjab crossing to over 2,000, Islamabad appear focused on fomenting trouble in Kashmir by radicalizing the Valley youth to cross over to train with jihadist groups like Lashkar-e-tayebba, Jaish-e-mohammed or HM and then infiltrate back to cause destruction in J&K. Besides, the Pakistani establishment is trying to smuggle assault rifles across the LOC in order to supply to terrorists in the Valley. This is indicative from the recent seizure of 13 AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and ammunition in Keran sector, Kupwara by the security forces on March 23.

Apart from the Pakistani attempts to increase the level of violence in Kashmir in the coming months, Islamabad is also propping up indigenous armed groups like the Resistance Front and JK Pirpanjal Peace Forum to get back at India for nullifying the article 370 in August, 2019.