Five terror associates were arrested and a cache of weapons seized in a major operation by police and the 9 Para Field Regiment in Kupwara, north Kashmir. The operation successfully dismantled a cross-border terror module involved in smuggling arms and ammunition under the direction of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handlers based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Acting on credible intelligence, the authorities apprehended Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, initially recovering an AK rifle, ammunition magazines, and two pistols with magazines. Investigations revealed Bhat’s close contact with the PoK-based handlers, Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh and Qazi Mohammad Khushal, who exploited his village’s proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) for weapon smuggling.
Bhat served as a key link, receiving smuggled weapons and distributing them to other terror associates within the network. Based on leads obtained from his arrest, four more accomplices – Khursheed Ahmad Rather, Mudassir Shafiq, Ghulam Sarwar Rather, and Qazi Fazal Illahi – were apprehended. Additional weapons, ammunition, and incriminating materials were recovered from these individuals.
Authorities are swiftly and comprehensively investigating the case to fully unravel the network’s operations and uncover the extent of the arms smuggling conspiracy.
