Two Al-Badr militants, 3 associates arrested in Kupwara district

Srinagar, April 13

Police arrested two militants and three militant associates of terror outfit Al-Badr and seized arms and ammunition from their possession in Kupwara district, officials said on Tuesday.

“Police in Handwara busted a terror module of proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr and arrested two active terrorists and three terrorist associates. Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered,” a police spokesperson said.

He said acting on a specific information regarding the movement of militants on Baramulla-Handwara highway in the north Kashmir district, a special checkpoint was established near Kachloo crossing by security forces where Mohammad Yaseen Rather, Showkat Ahmad Ganie and Ghulam Nabi Rather, all residents of Kachloo Qaziabad village, were caught.

Preliminary investigation revealed that those arrested were involved in providing logistic support, food and shelter to active militants.

They also disclosed that two other people known to them had recently joined militant ranks and were operating in Handwara area. Accordingly, he said, security forces arrested both Saleem Yousuf Rather and Ikhlaq Ahmad Sheikh of Watergam were arrested. Arms and ammunition were seized from them, the spokesman said.

The investigation also revealed that the two joined militant ranks recently and were planning to attack security forces’ installations, panches, sarpanches and other people in the area. — PTI