In a rare occurrence, an angry mob torched the house and vehicles of an Overground Worker of banned lashkar-e-Tayyeba in Sopore pocket of north Kashmir after he was spotted in the house of a woman who claimed she was being kidnapped by the militant outfit’s operative at gunpoint. Police have recovered from his possession an AK-47 rifle which belonged to leT commander Fahadullah, who was shot dead by police in an encounter last year.
This is the first incident in the area when people set on fire a house of a person having links with militants. Sources said that the house was attacked by angry people at the crack of dawn.
The locals tipped off the police when some mysterious persons entered the house belonging to one Mohiuddin War at Nowpora Jagir village, on the periphery of volatile Sopore town late on Friday night. Sources said that the locals had reported to the police that the house belonging to the lady, whose husband works in Delhi, was being frequented by unknown persons.
When the police, CRPF and the Army cordoned off the house, they caught hold of a person Mudassir Ahmad while his associates fled away. The lady in the house alleged that Ahmad and his group had come to kidnap her at gunpoint.
Ahmad revealed to police that the mastermind of the act was a local leT operative Imran Ahmad Dar, alias Jabroo, prompting them to raid his house. “On Ahmad’s disclosure, the house of a militant Imran Ahmad Dar was raided at Nowpora Kalan. Dar is the mastermind of the criminal act and was apprehended along with AK-47 and other ammunition. However, two other accomplices managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness and are still absconding. A search is on to nab them,” a police spokesman said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (north Kashmir range) Ghulam Hassan Bhat told The Pioneer that Jabroo’s house was ransacked and a room was set on fire. Two vehicles parked in the compound of his house were also damaged.
Superintendent of Police Abdul Qayoom said that Jabroo has been a leT operative. A lookout for Jabroo’s associates, who have been identified, has been launched, he added. Source said that Jabroo has been arrested twice in 2013. He was first apprehended in a criminal case. In the second time, he was arrested along with Pakistani militant Fahadullah. “He was released on bail recently,” police said in a statement.
Police said that the lady accused Jabroo of trying to kidnap her on gunpoint when the police arrived on the scene. “The veracity of her statement would be verified,” police said. Sopore is a sensitive north Kashmir town where militants of Hizbul Mujahideen and leT are active. The town has a dubious distinction of rise in crime, drug trafficking and consumption of liquor. Mysterious attacks and murders are reported from the area. Following the incident, police deployed a large contingent of its men to maintain law and order.