Police nab four OGWs in Kupwara

Kupwara, January 15

Four suspected overground workers (OGWs), who were allegedly radicalising youths in Kupwara district to join militant groups, were arrested on Tuesday, the police said today.

A senior police officer said that two youths, who had been radicalised by the OGWs and were all set to join militant ranks, were stopped in the nick of time.

“They (OGWs) were actively involved in radicalising youth to join militant groups. Following a tip-off, a special police team last week nabbed them from various locations,” Shamsher Hussian, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kupwara, told reporters here.

“The OGWs were planning to send the radicalised youths for arms training to south Kashmir and across the Line of Control. During sustained interrogation, they admitted that their handlers in south Kashmir had assured them and their families full financial support for radicalising the youths towards militancy,” the SSP said.

The police officer did not identify the two youths saved from turning to militancy.

The OGWs were identified as Rashid Bashir Pir, Zakir Amin Pir, Saif-ud-din Khatana and Manzoor Ahmad Najar, all residents of Kupwara district. — OC