Eight suspected terror associates arrested in three separate operations in Kashmir

Security forces arrested eight suspected overground workers (OGWs) of terrorists in three separate operations in Kashmir and recovered grenades, ammunition and other incriminating material, officials said on Tuesday, August 25.

In Shopian district, police and Army personnel launched a joint search operation in an orchard at Imamsahib following a tip-off. During the operation, they recovered a grenade, two AK magazines, four mobile phones and posters of a banned terror outfit from the orchard belonging to Nazir Ahmad Wani.

Three suspected OGWs, Ashiq Hussain Kumar, Arif Kumar and Harris Manzoor were arrested in connection with the operation, officials said.

In another operation in Shopian late on Monday night, security forces detained three motorcycle-borne individuals. Their search led to the recovery of two hand grenades and other incriminating material allegedly linked to the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit.

The three arrested men were identified as Junaid Ahmad Dar, Amir Yousuf and Junaid Muzaffar.

Separately, security forces arrested two suspected terrorist associates from a forest area in Pulwama district, officials said.

Acting on security inputs, police, Army and CRPF personnel launched a Cordon and Search Operation in the Yarwan forest area of CB Nath in Rajpora. During the operation, security personnel noticed two individuals emerging from the forest towards CB Nath village in a suspicious manner and apprehended them.

The two were identified as Latif Ahmad Deedad and Aejaz Ahmad Bajad. A pistol, 12 rounds of ammunition and a hand grenade were recovered from their possession, officials said.

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Investigators are probing the activities of the accused, the source of the recovered weapons and ammunition, and their possible links to wider terror networks, officials said.

(With inputs from PTI)