JAMMU, JUNE 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested two militants for alleged involvement in various explosions in Rajouri district’s Kotranka town in March and April this year.
Police identified the arrested people as Mohammad Shabir S/O Ghulam Hussain and Mohammad Sadiq S/O Ibrahim, both residents of Draaj in Budhal tehsil.
Kotranka town was rocked by twin blasts on March 26 and another blast on April 19 in which total two people were injured.
Two more people were injured in another blast in Shahpur, Budhal on April 24.
The police had registered cases involving all these explosions under sections 307,120-B,121-A,122 IPC, 3/4 of Explosives substances Act and 16/18 ULA(P) Act at Budhal Police Station.
Working on leads, joint teams of Rajouri Police and 60 Rashtriya Rifles (14 Sector) conducted multiple raids and searches at various locations in Larkoti, Targain, Jaglanoo and Draaj areas of Rajouri district and apprehended two suspects, Mohammad Shabir and Mohammad Sadiq.
During questioning, they revealed the name of their leader as Talib Shah, self styled commander of Lashkar-E-Toiba in Rajouri district, police said, adding they had been working on directions of their handlers based in Pakistan.
Talib, who is absconding, had collected three consignments of arms, ammunition and explosives from Lamberi area in Kalakote tehsil in January, March and April this year. Later, he used these IEDs to trigger blasts.
Pointing out that he is the mastermind of all terror activities in Pir Panjal area comprising border Rajouri and Poonch districts during the last 2-3 years, police said that Talib has also motivated many youth for carrying out terror activities in Rajouri. Shabir and Sadiq were also motivated by him to join militant ranks.
It has also come to fore that this group was also sheltering a few Kashmir based active terrorists of LeT outfit in general area Kandi-Budhal and were making efforts to revive militancy in Rajouri and Poonch districts, police said, describing apprehension of two a associates of Talib as a major success against terror.
During preliminary questioning, the arrested militants disclosed that they had hidden some explosive materials in the forests area of Draaj.
The police and 60 RR conducted searches of the area and seized five IEDs along with an equal number of remote control devices, 19 cells, one cover/wrap, a piece of cloth and 10 fuse.
While the arrested militants are being questioned, police have announced “suitable award” for anyone providing information about Talib.
