Two held, 2 identified for harbouring terrorists

SLAIN TERRORISTS WERE EITHER AFGHANS OR FROM PAK’S KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA BELT, SAYS ADGP

JAMMU: Close on the heels of the Sunjuwan attack, the additional director general of police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh late Saturday said the police have worked out the case with the arrest of two men -- Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh of Tral, who had facilitated the stay of terrorists in Jalalabad area of Sunjuwan in Jammu, and Bilal Ahmed Wagay of Kokarnag in Anantnag, who had picked up terrorists in a medium-sized truck from the border in Supwal area of Samba.

He said the slain terrorists spoke Pashto and hence were either from Afghanistan or Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa belt.

Addressing mediapersons here, Singh said on April 21 around 8 pm, information was received regarding the presence of two terrorists in Sunjuwan.

“A cordon was placed in the area at 11 pm by the Jammu Police, SOG, Army, CISF and the CRPF. The hiding terrorists resorted to heavy firing in the morning at 3 am on April 22, which was retaliated by the security forces and terrorists were localised in a building,” said the ADGP. After dominating all the adjoining houses, terrorists were eliminated by the joint efforts of the security forces.

“During this encounter, two terrorists which were associated with the suicide squad of Jaish-emohammad got eliminated. They had infiltrated recently and were directed by their Pak handlers to carry out Fidayeen attack in Jammu city,” he said. In this encounter, 10 personnel were injured and a CISF ASI was killed. “The J&K Police succeeded in arresting Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh of Mir Mohalla, Tral, who had facilitated the stay of terrorists in the Jalalabad area of Jammu,” said the ADGP.

He said on the basis of disclosure made by Sheikh, Mohammad Iqbal Rather of Kulgam in whose residence at Jalalabad the terrorists had taken refuse also stands detained. “The analysis of the mobile tower as well and internet data usage of the general area, suspicion was raised on Bilal Ahmed Wagay of Anantnag, who had picked up the terrorists in a truck on the border in the Supwal area of Samba and brought them to Jalalabad, which was further received by Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh,” said Singh. The ADGP said Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh further revealed that his brother Asif Ahmed Shiekh helped in finding a place for the accommodation of terrorists.“both brothers were in touch with their Jaish commander via Telegram application. The Jaish commander has been identified by code name Veer,” he said. Two AK-47 rifles, a pistol and heavy ammunition were recovered from slain terrorists,” he said.