Police have arrested two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) affiliated with Lashker-e-Toiba in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, an official said on Saturday.
He said police on March 27 received a reliable information that Showkat Ahmed Mir son of Nazir Ahmed Mir of Wussan and Showkat Ahmed Yatoo son of Mohammad Akbar Yatoo of Chanderhama were providing logistics to active militants of a Lashker-e-Toiba militant—Saleem Parray son of Ghulam Mohammad Parray of Hajin and Abu Zargam of Pakistan.
“Police, army and CRPF successfully apprehended both of them regarding which FIR No 51/ 20 U/S 18,18B, 19, 20, 39 ULA (P) Act has been lodged in police station Pattan,” he said.
Preliminary questioning, he said, have revealed that Mir alias Showkat Moulvi was previously booked also and presently he was an active member of Lashkar but he along with Yatoo were presently assigned the job of transporting Lashker cadre from one place to another besides providing shelter to them.
“Moreover they were also assigned the job of recruiting young locals of Pattan in to Lashkar-e-Toiba and recent missing boys of Wussan and Andergam were recruited by them.”
“Their modus operandi was sending boys to Pakistan on valid documents wherein they were trained and on their return they were provided weapons. Both of them also disclosed that they had some arms and ammunition which they had to provide to Abu Zargam which was also recovered by joint forces.”
Police claimed to have recovered a pistol, a magazine and six rounds, one hand grenade, one Ak-47 magazine and some rounds from the duo.
Earlier, the official said, one boy from Wussan Pattan namely Abid Qayoom Lone son of Abdul Qayoom Lone, who was studying at Government College of Engineering Jammu, went missing.
“Upon investigation, it surfaced that the duo had managed visa for Pakistan to the boy and on February 23, he had crossed over to Wagah border apparently for seeking admission in MBBS,” he said, adding, “During investigation a number of suspects were questioned and finally the duo were questioned and upon further investigation, they revealed that the boy has been sent by them to Pakistan for joining militant outfit.”
They also revealed that earlier in the year 2018, they have also managed visa for more four more local boys—from Wussan north Kashmir namely Umar and Gulzar and as many as from Lider village of Pahalgam in south Kashmir namely Adil Ahmad Mir and Umar Khan. “They were apparently sent for admission purposes however, both local boys are presently active militants of LeT outfit in District Baramulla,” he said.
