Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with Assam Rifles and CRPF, busted a terror module in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district and arrested a “hybrid terrorist” Shafayat Zubair Rishi.
Rishi was intercepted at a checkpoint in Dardgund area on August 25th. He was carrying a pistol, a magazine, and 8 rounds of ammunition. During questioning, he revealed that he was on his way to collect a cache of arms and ammunition from Munira Begum, the wife of a slain terrorist.
Rishi was in touch with a Pakistan-based terrorist handler, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, who had infiltrated into Pakistan in 1999. He was involved in the 2000 Kothibagh IED blast in which 14 people, including 12 police personnel, were killed. He had also remained associated with the proscribed terror outfit HM and later on with the terror outfit Al-Badr.
On Munira Begum’s disclosure, a cache of arms and ammunition, including a Krinkov AK-47 rifle, 3 magazines, 90 rounds, and a pen pistol, was recovered from a nearby forest area. It was to be delivered to Rishi.
Rishi also admitted that he was about to receive INR 47 lakhs for the revival of terrorists. This money was to be handed over to someone as per the requirement and directions of his Pakistan-based handler Mushtaq Ahmad Mir.
A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.
This is a major success for the security forces in their fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The arrest of Rishi has foiled the attempts of Pakistan-based terrorist handlers to revive terrorism in the region.
