2 AL-BADR TERRORISTS AMONG 5 HELD IN J&K

SRINAGAR: Police arrested two terrorists and three terrorist associates of terror outfit Al-Badr and seized arms and ammunition from their possession in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said on Tuesday.

“Police in Handwara busted a terror module of proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr and arrested two active terrorists and three terrorist associates. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered,” a police spokesperson said.

He said acting on a specific information regarding the movement of terrorists on BaramullaHandwara highway in the north Kashmir district, a special checkpoint was established near Kachloo Crossing by security forces.

During checking of vehicles, three people riding a motorcycle tried to escape from the spot but were apprehended by the alert forces, he said. They were identified as Mohammad Yaseen Rather, Showkat Ahmad Ganie and Ghulam Nabi Rather, all residents of Kachloo Qaziabad village, the spokesman said.

During a search, incriminating materials of proscribed outfit Al-Badr and arms and ammunition were seized from their possession, he added.

Preliminary investigation revealed that those arrested were working for Al-Badr and were involved in providing logistic support, food and shelter to active terrorists, the spokesman said. They were also helping to establish a militant associate network for the outfit, including identifying safe routes for their movement, he said.

Police registered a case, and further investigation was initiated. During the course of the probe, the spokesperson said, those arrested disclosed that two other people known to them had recently joined militant ranks and were operating in Handwara area.