Module aiding Pak terrorists busted, kingpin among 9 held

Arjun Sharma

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Jammu, August 12

In a major breakthrough amid rising infiltrations, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have busted a module of nine over-ground workers (OGWs). The accused allegedly used to receive, and provide food and logistics to Pakistani terrorists responsible for multiple attacks on security forces in Jammu region recently.

In an official statement, the J&K Police said a module suspected to be behind the recent infiltration of ultras was exposed after the successful operation in the Gandoh area of Doda district on June 26 and intelligence leads provided by the central agencies. The infiltration had allegedly resulted in increased terrorist activities in the upper reaches of Doda, Udhampur and Kathua.

The Kathua police have arrested nine members of the module and taken them in their custody. The kingpin of the OGW module was identified as Mohammad Lateef. The eight other accused were identified as Akhter Ali, Saddam, Kushal, Noorani, Maqbool, Liaquat, Kasim Din and Khadim, all residents of Kathua district.

According to the police, Lateef, a resident of Ambe Naal in Kathua, acted as a guide for the groups of terrorists passing through the area. He also engaged and directed other OGWs in their role as guide and food provider to the ultras.

The police said the kingpin of the OGW module was in collusion with terrorist handlers in Pakistan, and played a crucial role in receiving foreign terrorists after their entry into India through the International Border (IB) in the Samba-Kathua sector.

“Apart from providing terrorists initial shelter, food and other minor logistics, the module was also responsible for guiding them to the upper reaches of the mountains and jungles of Udhampur, Kathua and Doda districts around the Kailash mountain, which is at the centre of the tri-junction of these three districts,” the police spokesperson said.

The members of the module have confirmed that the three terrorists who were killed in the Gandoh encounter had taken their help in hiding and travelling without being detected till they reached the upper reaches.

The police said they had investigated more than 50 persons -- who were living in mud houses in the upper reaches and mountains for grazing livestock -- for coming in contact with the foreign terrorists, Out of these, some took money from the ultras. However, many of them also informed the police about the movement of terrorists.

“Those who reported the presence of ultras to the police in time are being treated as innocent. However, the liability of others is being examined,” the police said.