Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district have arrested eight Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant-associates involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition.
The arrests were made in two separate operations on August 8 and 11. In the first operation, security forces arrested Showkat Ali Awan, a resident of Churunda Uri, after he was found carrying two grenades. During questioning, Awan revealed the names of his accomplices, Ahmad Din and Mohammad Sadeeq Khatana, who were also arrested.
In the second operation, security forces stopped a vehicle at a checkpoint in Powarian Thajal Uri and arrested the five occupants, who were found to be carrying four hand grenades, two pistols, two pistol magazines, 10 live bullets, and Rs 50,000 in cash.
The SSP said that the accused are involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition at the behest of Pakistan-based terror handlers. They were further distributing the arms and ammunition to LeT terrorists for carrying out terror activities.
The SSP said that cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act have been registered against the accused. They are being further questioned to ascertain their involvement in other terror-related activities.
This is a major success for the security forces in their fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The arrests of these eight LeT militant-associates have dealt a major blow to the terror outfit’s plans to carry out attacks in the region.
