Five Jaish operatives held, major terror attack averted: J&K police

SRINAGAR:AHEAD of Republic Day J&K police “averted a major militant attack” and arrested five Jaish operatives here, police said.

“The Srinagar Police busts Jaish module. Two grenade blasts in Hazratbal area worked out. Major attack averted ahead of Republic Day. Five terror operatives arrested. Huge [amounts of] explosive material recovered,” tweeted J&K police, terming it a “major success”.

Giving details about arrest of the militants, deputy inspector general (DIG), Central Kashmir, V K Birdi identified the arrested persons as Aijaz Ahmed Sheikh,

Umar Hameed Sheikh, Imtiyaz Ahmed Chikla alias Imran, Sahil Farooq and Naseer Ahmed Mir. The five men, who were working towards executing sensational incidents like terror attacks and causing IED explosions, were nabbed in two phases, he said.

“They were arrested during investigations of case FIR No. 02/2020 of Police Station Nigeen pertaining to a terror attack on January 8, near Habak crossing,” he said.

Birdi said it was also learnt that they were involved in planning and executing a terror attack last year near Sir Syed Gate, University of Kashmir in Hazratbal on November 26.

Large quantity of explosives were recovered from the arrested persons which include 143 gelatin rods/sticks, seven secondary explosives, one silencer, 42 detonators, body vest laden with explosives and one ball bearings, one walkie talkie, Hiw(hi-watt) three Batteries, Battery Charger, one On-off Switch, three coils, explosive type material three packets, Four tape rolls, and one Nitric acid bottle 2.5 liters, police said.

“The investigation has revealed their motive to enforce shutdown and paralyse normal life in the city and further plans to execute sensational incidents like terror attack and causing IED explosions,” Birdi said.

(with PTI inputs)