JAMMU, AUGUST 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a major breakthrough into the recen terror attacks on security forces in Kathua, Udhampur and Doda districts, on Monday claimed to have arrested nine people and busted a module behind the recent infiltration from Pakistan which has resulted in increased terrorist activities and their movement in upper reaches of Doda, Udhampur and Kathua districts.
The arrested people have been identified as Mohammad Lateef @ Haji Lateef son of Late Meer and Akhter Ali son of late Rasid, both residents of Ambe Naal, Kathua, besides Saddam, Khadim @ Qazi and Kushal, all sons of late Baza and residents of Bhaddu Billawar in Kathua district.
The others include Noorani S/o Late Meer R/o Juthana under the jurisdiction of Rajbagh police station, Maqbool S/o Mohammad Lateef R/o Soffain, Liaquat S/o Haji Lateef. Kasim Din S/o Shahin Din.
It said that the module got busted following killing of three foreign terrorists during a successful operation in Doda district’s Gandoh area and on the basis of intelligence leads provided by the Central agencies.
The police described Mohammad Lateef alias Haji Lateef as kingpin of the module, saying that he acted as guide and arranged logistics etc for the groups of terrorists passing through the area. He engaged and directed others to act as guide to terrorists or provide them food in the area.
The module in active collusion with terrorist handlers across the border, played a crucial role in receiving foreign terrorists after their illegal and surreptitious entry into the Samba-Kathua sector, police said, adding that its arrested members besides providing initial shelter, food and other minor logistics were also responsible for guiding them to the upper reach of Udhampur, Kathua and Doda districts around Kailash mountain which is at the centre of tri-junction of these three districts.
The members of the module, according to police, have confirmed that three terrorists killed during encounter at Gandoh had taken the help of the module in hiding and travelling without being detected till they reached the upper reaches.
The police said that more than 50 persons living in temporary Dhoks being used by nomads for stay during summer on the upper reaches and mountains for purposes of grazing of livestock have been investigated for coming in contact with the foreign terrorists for either providing food, shelter or communication help. Of them, “only a few did not report to the police and some had accepted money from the terrorists,’’ police said, adding that those who informed it on time are “being treated as innocent’’.
The liability of others, however, is being examined including prior connection with terrorists and their handlers across, it said, requesting members of the general public to inform the police about any contact with terrorists as soon as possible after the terrorists have left. Failure to report besides being a criminal offence is likely to adversely affect the person’s access to government benefits, it added.
Last month, nine soldiers including an Army Captain have died in terrorist attacks in Doda and Kathua districts of Jammu region. While five soldiers were killed in terrorist attack on an army convoy in Kathua’s Badnota village near Machedi on July 8, four soldiers including an Army Captain were killed in terror attack in Desa forests of Doda district on the night of July 15.
Five terrorists were also killed by security forces and police in two separate encounters in Kathua’s Saida village and Doda’s Gandoh area on the intervening night of June 11-12 and June 26 afternoon, respectively.
According to police, these terrorists have been moving in upper reaches of Doda, Udhampur and Kathua districts. The police and security forces have launched massive combing operation from all sides to trap the terrorists and only yesterday, they had a brief exchange of fire with the latter at Khaned in Basantgarh area of Udhampur district and Doda’s Paddar area.
The police have released sketch of over half a dozen terrorists and announced cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for each of them for information leading to their apprehension or killing.
