In a significant development, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Javed Ahmed Mattoo (32), a prominent Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, on Thursday in the national Vapital. Mattoo, who was A++ terrorist, captured with a 9 MM star pistol, magazine, six live cartridges and a stolen car. He was wanted in 11 terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and was among the top 10 targets in the Valley on the list of security agencies. He was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. He was wanted in connection with multiple terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
The arrest was made following a successful search operation conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), as confirmed by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
With the coordination of Special Cell of Delhi Police and central agencies, Javed Mattoo, an A++ category terrorist who has a bounty of Rs10 lakh on him, was arrested today…After taking him into police custody remand, we will further action against him,” Special Commissioner of Delhi Police HGS Dhaliwal said. He added that Mattoo was found travelling on the DND in a stolen vehicle and that a pistol was recovered from him at the time of the arrest. The police, said Dhaliwal, had been tracking Mattoo from Delhi’s Nizamuddin. He also said that though Mattoo concealed his identity and was leading a “camouflaged” life, he “maintained contact with his associates”.
According to the police, Mattoo went underground after getting injured in an exchange of fire with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. He then fled to Nepal on the instructions of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. A few days ago, the Delhi Police received information that Mattoo would be coming to Delhi-NCR to collect arms and ammunition. Acting on the tip-off, sources keeping tabs on sleeper cells and weapon suppliers were activated. The police were also informed that Mattoo’s Pakistan-based handler would be coordinating the delivery of arms and ammunition, and he would carry out terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mattoo, a resident of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir, had also visited Pakistan on several occasions.
According to the police, Mattoo was part of a seven-member module of the Hizbul Mujahideen. While four of the module’s members had died during gunfights with security forces in separate incidents, two are still working from Pakistan, Dhaliwal said.
Mattoo’s involvement in various terrorist activities in the Jammu and Kashmir region had made him a high-priority target for law enforcement agencies.
Requesting anonymity, another officer said Abdul Mazid Zargar, a resident of Sopore, was among Matoo’s associates. Currently, Zargar is in Pakistan and he is involved in cross-border smuggling, the officer said.
“Abdul Qayum Nazar was the operational in-charge of the terrorist module. He was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir,” the officer said.
Tariq Ahmed Lone, another associate of Matoo, was a Pakistan-trained terrorist. Lone fell to death after he jumped from a bridge when he was surrounded by security forces, the officer added.
The officer said Imtiyaz Kundu, also Matoo’s associate, fled to Pakistan in 2016. His name has surfaced in several cases in Kashmir, the officer said.
Mehraj Halwai and Pakistan-trained terrorist Wasim Guru, also linked to Matoo, were killed in an encounter by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, the officer said.
In 2010, Dhaliwal said, Matoo along with his associates had killed Head Constable Mohammad Yusuf outside the Sopore police station.
Matoo along with four others had in 2010 also launched an attack on the residence of the Sopore superintendent of police. They were armed with AK-47s and had lobbed grenades at the residence, he saidIn 2012, Matoo suffered a bullet injury during another attack on the police station. Due to the injury, he faced problems while walking, police said.
Dhaliwal said after this, they killed two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and snatched their service weapons. They also attacked a police patrol team, injuring its members, the SCP said.
