Jammu and Kashmir Police busted a major inter-state terror network and arrested five people, including a Lashkar-e-Taiba member who entered India 16 years ago, officials said on Tuesday.
The Pakistani News Agency quoted officials as saying that the Pakistani terrorist, known as Abdullah, nicknamed Abu Hurairah, was on the run and had managed to establish bases outside the territory of the Union.
Among those arrested was another Pakistani terrorist, Usman, alias Khabib.
The investigation into uncovering the massive terrorist network included investigators conducting searches at 19 locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Haryana. Officials said that in addition to the arrested terrorists, three residents of Srinagar were also detained, according to PTI.
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They have been identified as Muhammad Naqeeb Bhat, Adil Rashid Bhat and Ghulam Muhammad Mir alias Mama. They were detained for allegedly providing logistical support, such as shelter and food, to terrorists.
The two arrested Pakistani terrorists were classified as Category A and were involved in setting up a Lashkar-e-Taiba network in Jammu and Kashmir as well as other states through fake documents and identity.
They also dealt with and led about 40 foreign terrorists, most of whom were killed by security forces, Press Ti reported.
What is known about the discovered LeT network?
Officials described the network as “deep-rooted” and said it provided hideouts and financial support to Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, the agency reported. The officials further said that the investigation also revealed the financing and financial pattern of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat was personally supervising the operations, officials told PTI.
According to officials, incriminating materials, including AK-47 rifles, AK-Krinkov rifle, pistols, grenades, electronic equipment and tools, were seized from several hideouts linked to the terror network in Srinagar and other cities.
In addition, forged documents and addresses located in other states were recovered from Abdullah and Usman, indicating the use of fake identities and possible channels outside Jammu and Kashmir.
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More such arrests may be made, they said, as the investigation now looks into any additional accomplices, financiers, facilitators, safe houses and links between countries.
How was the terrorist network identified?
The complex terrorist network began to unravel when the first of the three Srinagar residents – Captain Bhat – was arrested on March 31. Bhatt was in possession of a pistol and other incriminating materials.
During interrogation, he allegedly revealed that he was part of Lashkar-e-Taiba and had bought arms and ammunition from another accomplice, Adil Rashid. Officials said Bhatt also provided support to foreign terrorists, Press TI reported.
Through Bhat, the police arrested Mir and Rashid Bhat, both active associates in Srinagar.
The investigation also indicates that a foreign terrorist, on the basis of forged documents and identity, managed to travel outside the country with the help of the Lashkar-e-Taiba network in other countries, police said.
(with PTI inputs)
