J&K Police crack major LeT network; top Pak commander among five held

Jammu and Kashmir Police have busted a major interstate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module, arresting five persons, including two Pakistani terrorists, one of whom had been active for over 16 years.

While the police are yet to issue an official statement, sources said the arrested Pakistani militants include Abdullah alias Abu Hureira, a top commander who had infiltrated into the Valley around 2010 and was involved in recruiting militants, and Usman alias Khubaib. Both are categorised as ‘A+’ grade terrorists.

A senior police official said that in an operation led by the elite Special Operations Group (SOG), three locals and two Pakistani nationals have been apprehended so far. The operation, which began on March 31, was monitored at the highest level and involved coordinated action across multiple states.

Investigations revealed that Abdullah had managed to establish bases outside Jammu and Kashmir around 2022–23 using forged documents and false identities, creating a wider interstate network. The module had support in areas around Srinagar, including Zakura and Hazratbal.

Over the past several days, searches and raids were conducted at nearly 19 locations across Jammu and Kashmir and other states, including Rajasthan and Haryana, with assistance from central agencies. A number of suspects have been detained and questioned to ascertain their role in the network.

Police sources identified the three Srinagar residents arrested as Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Mama, Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat, and Adil Rashid Bhat. They are accused of providing shelter, food, and logistical support to the militants.

The module began to unravel after the arrest of Naqeeb Bhat from the Pandach area, during which a pistol and incriminating material were recovered. His questioning led police to other associates, eventually exposing the wider network.

During the raids, security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including AK-series rifles, pistols, hand grenades, and electronic devices. Several hideouts in and around Srinagar, including forested areas, were also busted. Forged documents bearing addresses from other states were seized, indicating the use of fake identities to facilitate movement and operations beyond the Valley.

Preliminary investigations also suggest that one foreign terrorist may have travelled outside the country using documents obtained through this network.

Sources said more arrests are likely as the probe continues to identify additional associates, financiers, facilitators, and interstate linkages.

In the earlier ‘Al Falah operation’ in November 2025, Srinagar police unravelled a network comprising highly educated professionals, mostly doctors, who had been radicalised to carry out terrorist activities.

One of the accused was the Al Falah university’s Dr Umer-un Nabi, who was driving the explosives-laden car that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10 killing more than a dozen people. He had earlier made unsuccessful attempts to join terror groups in 2016 and 2018, the officials said.