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6 held for threatening panches in Kashmir
Tribune News Service

‘No militant link’ Police sees no militant link; says the gang just wanted to create a scare POSTER THREATS Five months ago, posters of militant outfits had appeared in north Kashmir The posters were in the names of the LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen These posters told panchayat members to quit or face consequences

Srinagar, November 18
Almost five months after posters of militant outfits appeared in north Kashmir’s Pattan and adjoining localities, the J&K police claims to have busted a six-member gang that allegedly issued threats to panchayat members and other persons of the locality.

The police claims the group had no link with any militant outfit and that it was the handiwork of six local persons from north Kashmir who wanted to create scare among the residents. Among those arrested were: Ishtiyaq Wani of Goshbugh, Palhalan Ishfaq Sofi of Sopore and Showkat Ahmed of Bandipore.

Wani was recently nabbed by a team of the J&K Police outside the state. “Wani was the kingpin and he, along with five friends, had hatched a plan to scare the panchayat members and other perasons in the locality. Wani had in the past remained active with the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, but was now working in a private company outside the state,” said a police officer.