Had been collecting arms dropped by Pakistani drones; Talib Hussain among them

The police have busted three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terror modules, including two involved in picking arms and ammunition dropped by Pakistani drones in Jammu, Kathua, Samba and Rajouri districts. Seven terrorists have been arrested in the past one month. LeT commander Talib Hussain, arrested recently, was part of one of these modules.

At a press conference, Jammu ADGP Mukesh Singh said many of the weapons the terrorists received were transported to Kashmir and could have been used in targeted killings. The police have come to know about over 20 cases involving droppings by drones.

Almost two weeks after his arrest in Reasi, Talib revealed to the police that he had picked five consignments of arms and ammunition dropped by drones near the LoC in Rajouri district.

The ADGP said Talib received two groups of terrorists who were ferried from Kashmir to Rajouri by Mohammad Shabir of Draj. “One of them, Faisal Ahmad Dar of Pulwama, was caught along with Talib. Two other terrorists are still active in higher reaches of Pir Panjal and efforts are on to neutralise them,”

The arrest of Talib and his associates cracked the murder case of Karamat Shah of Targain in Rajouri besides Kotranka IED blasts and Shahpur grenade case.

Talib’s two associates—Mohammad Shabir and Mohammad Sadiq—were arrested in June.

The second terror module, said to be run by Doda resident Bashir who is based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, comprised Faisal Muneer of Jammu, Habib and Miayan Sohail, both of Kathua. The three had collected arms from 15 sorties of drones in three districts—Jammu, Kathua and Samba. According to the police, this group was supposed to receive a rifle, explosives, grenades and sticky bombs from two drones which were shot down in Hariya Chak village (May) and Manyari village (June 2020) in Kathua.

ADGP Mukesh Singh said Faisal confessed that he had been working for his Pakistan-based handlers for more than two-and-a-half year. “Acting on Faisal’s disclosure, an AK rifle, two magazines, 60 rounds, five pistols, two pistol silencers, eight grenades and other weapons have been seized from Talab Khatikan area. The pistol silencer is possibly meant for targeted killings,” he said, adding these arms could have been used for attacks in Jammu.

The third module has involvement of arrested terrorist Altaf Hussain, a resident of Draj in Rajouri, who allegedly threw a grenade at the house of BJP leader Jasbir Singh, killing a minor in August last year.

The LeT has been trying to activate terrorists, who have surrendered, the ADGP said, adding that the terrorists’ main aim was targeted killings as indicated by the recovery of pistols and silencers.

Several blast cases cracked

• The arrest of Talib and his aides cracked the murder case of Karamat Shah of Rajouri besides several IED blasts.
• Another module collected arms from 15 sorties of drones. They had to pick weapons from 2 drones which were shot down in May this year and June last year.
• Third module of Altaf Hussain is said to be behind grenade attack at BJP leader Jasbir Singh’s house last year, resulting in killing of a minor.
• AK rifle, two magazines, 60 rounds, pistols, silencer, grenades, etc., seized.

20 cases of drone dropping come to fore

• The police have come to know about over 20 cases involving dropping of arms by Pak drones.
• Talib Hussain picked five consignments in Rajouri district and received two groups of terrorists who came from Kashmir.
• 2 terrorists are still active in Pir Panjal, say police.

Courtesy: The Tribune India :18th July , 2022