Two Jaish militants involved in Army convoy attack arrested

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22

Security forces arrested two local Jaish-e-Mohammed militants in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district in the wee hours today.

The police said the duo was part of the Jaish module which had attacked an Army convoy in Baramulla in August this year, leaving two soldiers and a policeman dead.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, while addressing policemen on Friday, had urged that local militants be “brought back home” instead of being “killed in encounters”.

A police spokesman identified the two militants as Safeer Ahmad Bhat of Janbazpora in Baramulla and Farhaan Fayaz Liloo of Jamia Mohalla in Baramulla.

“The two were arrested in a joint operation by the police, Army and the CRPF,” the spokesman said.

He said the militants were part of the Jaish module operating in Baramulla town and adjacent areas, headed by one Pakistani militant operating by code name Khalid.

“This module along with the arrested duo were involved in a terrorist attack on an Army and police convoy on August 16 this year in Khwajabagh, Baramulla, in which two Army men and one policeman were killed,” he said.

“One AK series rifle, one pistol and other arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession,” the spokesman said. He said further investigation into the matter was on.

Of late, the Jaish has strengthened itself in and around Baramulla. During the current unrest, the Jaish released a seven-minute video “warning pro-India politicians and informers” in Baramulla.

This year, two foreign Jaish militants were arrested by security forces around Baramulla town.