J&K police, Army bust Pakistan-backed arms smuggling bid in a joint operation, three held

Jammu and Kashmir police and the Indian Army on Wednesday evening busted an allegedly Pakistan-backed terror module related to arms smuggling from across the border into the Indian territory. Three terror associates of terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba have been arrested.

The smuggled weapons were distributed to Lashkar terrorists, facilitating them to carry out terror attacks in the region.

Baramulla police in its statement said, “Baramulla police and Army's 16 SIKHLI, while conducting a joint patrol and area control in Churunda Uri, detected an individual moving suspiciously. After realising the presence of the patrolling team, the person attempted to escape but was apprehended. While conducting a personal search, two grenades were found in his possession. He was promptly taken into custody and later identified as Showkat Ali Awan, son of Abdul Karim Awan, residing in Churunda Uri.”

During interrogation, the arrested terror associate revealed two names - Ahmad Din and Mohammad Sadeeq Khatana. Following the disclosure, the joint operation teams have recovered two grenades, one Chinese pistol, one pistol magazine and four live rounds from them.

Further probe revealed that the accused were involved in illegally bringing in weapons from across the border into the Indian soil on the direction of terror handlers in Pakistan. The weapons were then distributed to Lashkar terrorists, facilitating them to carry out terror attacks in the region.

Third success in run up to Independence Day

This is the third major success for the Baramulla police in foiling such attempts in the run up to Independence Day. Jammu and Kashmir police on August 2 arrested two white-collar terrorists from Azadgunj area of Baramulla during routine checking by the police. The terrorists had collected the arms and ammunition for carrying out terror attacks ahead of Independence Day in the Baramulla district. One pistol, one pistol magazine, four live pistol rounds and one grenade were recovered from their possession.

Earlier on July 25, Baramulla police arrested two terror associates of Lashkar and recovered two Chinese pistols, two pistol magazines and 14 live pistol rounds from them. The duo had collected the weapons for target killing in Baramulla.

Security beefed up across Jammu and Kashmir

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha held a meeting with senior police officials to review the preparednessahead of Independence Day

Security forces have beefed up the security grid across Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Independence Day, which remains a high-security period. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on August 8 chaired a meeting with senior police officials to review the preparedness for Independence Day celebrations across the Union Territory.