Key terror module of Let’s new outfit busted in Kashmir

THE SIX WERE MEMBERS OF ‘THE RESISTANCE FRONT’, A NEWLY FORMED MILITANT OUTFIT BELIEVED TO BE A SHADOW GROUP OF THE LET AND WERE ARRESTED IN AN OP

SRINAGAR: Security forces have busted a module of Lashkar-eToiba’s shadow outfit in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir arresting six suspected militants and recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition, officials said on Monday.

The six were members of ‘The Resistance Front’, a newly formed militant outfit believed to be a shadow group of the LET and were arrested in an operation spreading from Sopore in Baramulla district to Keran in Kupwara district near the Line of Control, the officials said.

Acting on an input developed by police about transportation of arms and ammunition from Keran to Sopore hospital, the cops swung into action and formed four teams to undertake the operation, they said.

“All the teams reached the spot covertly and apprehended four people identified as Ahtisham Farooq Malik, Shafqat Ali Tagoo, Musaib Hassan Bhat and Nisar Ahmad Ganai -- all residents of Sopore,” the officials said.

During questioning, they revealed that they were working under a Pakistan-based man who goes by the name ‘Andrew Jones’ on Telegram messenger, they said. “These four were the main handlers deputed by ‘Andrew Jones’ for recruiting local youth for terrorist activities in Kashmir particularly in North Kashmir... their job was to instigate local youth to join terrorist ranks,” they said.

Their questioning led to arrest of two more suspects hailing from Keran who have been identified as Kabeer Lone and Sharafat Ahmad Khan.

Khan during questioning disclosed that he along with two other people from Keran received a consignment of arms and ammunition from across the LOC and dumped it near Cobra Post Keran Kupwara. A team of police officials raided the spot and recovered the weapons and ammunition.

Eight AK rifles, 25 AK magazines, 10 pistols, more than 1,000 AK and pistol rounds, 89 hand grenades and 21 detonator fuses were recovered from the six militants, officials said.

The arrest of the militants and their overground workers and recovery of weapons and explosives has foiled the designs of their masters to revive militancy in north Kashmir and unleash a fresh wave of violence, they said.