SRINAGAR — Police on Thursday claimed to have arrested two militants affiliated with TRF and MGH militant outfits and as many of their associates involved in the killing of a property dealer in downtown Srinagar in December last year.
In a statement, police said Militants targeted and killed a property dealer namely Rauf Ahmed in Safakadal area. After the incident Srinagar Police started investigation into this killing. During the course of investigation movement of some suspects was detected in Srinagar City.
They said “Based on further analysis and credible human intelligence Srinagar Police detected suspicious movement of Militants in Bhagat Barzulla area. On this Srinagar police along with CRPF laid special Nakas and apprehended two Militants of proscribed militant organization TRF / MGH an off shoots of LET/JeM near Barzulla Bridge.”
The arrested militants have been identified as Qadir Khanday son of Ghulam Qadir Khanday resident of Tral pulwama (Active militant) Suhail Mushtaq Waza son of Mushtaq Ahmed Waza resident of Nikloora Pulwama (Active militant), they said adding that “During the search 2 Pistols along with two Pistol Magazine and 30 Pistol Bullets were recovered on spot.”
On further questioning of Militants Incriminating material, arms and ammunition including 2 pistols, 6 pistol Magazines, 69 rounds, 2 pistol silencers have been recovered from their hideout in Srinagar City, police said.
So far 4 pistols, 08 pistol magazines, 99 live rounds, 2 pistol silencers have been recovered in the case.
They further identified two associates namely Basit Bilal Makaya son of Bilal Ahmed Makaya resident of Qamar Abad Qamarwari and Naikoo Imad Nasar son of Farooq Ahmed Bhat resident of Kiloora Shopian who were operating with them as OGWs. Both associates have been arrested. In this connection Case under FIR No 08/2021 of Saddar PS under sections 7/25 of the arms act and sections 18.23 of UAP Act has been registered in PS Saddar, it said.
During the questioning, as per police the arrested militants disclosed that they were operating in Srinagar City on the direction of one person namely Asif Maqbool Dar resident of MIG Colony Bemina A/P Dhamam Saudi Arabia and Sajjad Gul resident of HMT Parimpora A/P Pakistan. Both the handlers from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were providing weapons and money through a network of OGWs being identified.
This module has also done recce of security installations like NIA office, Delhi Police Headquarters etc. and shared same with handlers in Pakistan. As per the investigation the targets in the city for killings were also selected and conveyed to them by Dr Asif and Sajad Gul. Suhail Qadar Khandy was working in Saudi Arabia with Dr Asif Dar and in August 2021 on the direction of Dr Asif he came back and started working as an operative of TRF/MGH/for coordinating the collection of Arms/Ammunition, money and militant attacks in Srinagar, the statement added.
Quoting IGP Kashmir zone police twitter handle said “There are already 3 more case FIRs registered against Dr Asif in #Srinagar for using provocative language to invoke disaffection against the govt establishments & promoting enmity b/w different groups. 1st time Dr Asif found directly involved in #terrorism in Kashmir: IGP Kashmir”. — (KDC)