JeM module busted in Awantipora, 5 held
Our Correspondent
Pulwama, February 5
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Awantipora, Mohammad Zahid Malik today claimed that the police had busted a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) module which was involved in grenade attacks in the Pampore and Khrew areas of Pulwama district.
During a press conference here, the SSP said five persons had been arrested from Awantipora in this connection. He said the module was formed by Noor Mohammad Tantray, alias Noor Trali, who was killed in an encounter at Samboora village of Pulwama district on December 25.
The SSP said the five persons had been identified as Sajad Ahmad Bhat, a Pakistan-trained ex-militant and the kingpin from Hergam, Umar Gani Sheikh, a resident of Drangbal, Pampore, Jan Mohammad Khanday, a resident of Meech, Pampore, Owais Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Danak Mohalla, Khrew, and Muzaffer Hussain Bhat, a resident of Tulbagh, Pampore.
The arrested members have revealed that they were carrying out the operations under the guidance of Mufti Waqas, a resident of Pakistan, who currently heads the JeM in south Kashmir.
The police officer said the five overground workers had confessed that they were involved in the grenade attacks at Pampore and Khrew. He confirmed that the police had reports that two locals were part of the Jaish and believed that six to eight others might also be part of the outfit and were active in the Awantipora police district.
He said that the busting of the module was an important breakthrough as it had lead to many revelations which the police were investigating.
He hoped that by busting the module, attacks by the Jaish would be checked on the highway and adjoining areas of Pampore.
“What the police have been able to find is that this is the module that was given the command to carry such activities (attacks) on the highway,” the SSP said.
