Massive arms haul: J&K Police recover 2,900 kg explosives, AK rifles linked to terror module

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has unearthed an interstate and transnational terror module of Jaish-e-Mohamamd and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind outfits by arresting seven persons, including two doctors, and recovering arms and ammunition, officials said here on Monday.

The operation was carried out jointly by Faridabad and Jammu and Kashmir Police and 2,900 kg of IED-making material was recovered besides other arms and ammunition.

Two doctors, including one in Faridabad, from whom arms and ammunition were recovered earlier, were also among the arrested.

“In a major counter-terrorism success, J-K Police has busted an inter-state and transnational terror module, linked with proscribed terrorist organisations JeM and AGuH. The operation has led to the arrest of key operatives and recovery of a massive cache of arms, ammunition and explosives, during coordinated searches in J-K and other states,” a police spokesperson said.

Police said on October 19, multiple JeM posters were found pasted at different locations in Bunpora Nowgam area of the city in Srinagar, threatening and intimidating police and security forces.

Accordingly, a case was registered under various sections of the UAPA Act, BNS, Explosive Substance Act, and Arms Act at Police Station Nowgam and investigation was taken up.

“The investigation has revealed a white collar terror ecosystem, involving radicalised professionals and students in contact with foreign handlers, operating from Pakistan and other countries,” police said.

According to police, the group has been using encrypted channels, for indoctrination, coordination, fund movement and logistics.

“Funds were raised through professional and academic networks, under the guise of social/charitable causes. The accused were found involved in identifying persons, to radicalise, initiate and recruit them to terrorist ranks, besides raising funds, arranging logistics, procurement of arms/ammunition and material for preparing IEDs,” they added.

During the course of investigation, the seven accused were arrested.

Police identified the arrested as Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid, all residents of Nowgam, Srinagar, Molvi Irfan Ahmad (Imam of a mosque), resident of Shopian, Zameer Ahmad Ahanger alias Mutlasha, resident of Wakura area of Ganderbal, Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie alias Musaib, resident of Koil area of Pulwama, and Dr Adeel, resident of Wanpora area of Kulgam.

Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie was arrested with around 360 kg of explosives suspected to be ammonium nitrate and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from his rented accommodation in Faridabad.

Ganaie is a teacher at Al Falaha University.

Earlier, Faridabad Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta said the joint team of Faridabad and Jammu and Kashmir police arrested the doctor who was also wanted in connection with putting up posters supporting terror outfit JeM in Srinagar.

Police in Srinagar said the role of a few more individuals has surfaced who will be traced and apprehended.

During the ongoing investigation, searches were conducted at multiple locations by J-K Police in Srinagar, Anantnag, Ganderbal and Shopian districts.

Similarly, J-K Police also conducted searches at Faridabad, in tandem with Haryana Police and at Saharanpur, with the UP Police.

The investigation, so far, has led to the recovery of incriminating documents, electronic devices, arms/ammunition and IED making material.

Police said the recoveries include a Chinese Star Pistol with ammunition, a Beretta Pistol with ammunition, an AK 56 Rifle with ammunition, an AK Krinkov Rifle with ammunition, 2,900 kg of IED-making material, including explosives, chemicals, reagents, inflammable material, electronic circuits, batteries, wires, remote control, timers and metal sheets.

Financial investigation, regarding the flow of funds, is on and all linkages are being traced and addressed expeditiously, they added.