September 27: Police in Awantipora have arrested six terrorist associates, recovering IEDs, arms, ammunition, and other incriminating materials from their possession.
Acting on specific intelligence, Awantipora police uncovered a plot orchestrated by a Pakistan-based Kashmiri terrorist affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit. The terrorist was reportedly identifying local youth to be recruited into terror ranks. These youth were provided with arms, ammunition, and explosives to commit terror acts before formally joining the terror organization.
A case was registered at Police Station Tral under FIR No. 108/2024 U/S 13/18 UAPA & 7/25 of the Indian Arms Act. During the investigation, it was revealed that the Pakistan-based terrorist, with the assistance of an Over Ground Worker (OGW) currently in jail, had motivated several youth from Tral in Awantipora and Kulgam districts to join the terror network.
The youth were supplied with pistols, grenades, IEDs, and other explosives, with instructions to commit acts of terrorism, such as target killings, grenade attacks on security forces and public places, or planting IEDs. They were tasked with executing these actions before their formal induction into the terror ranks.
Further investigations revealed that the terrorist handler had selected specific locations for planting IEDs with the help of these recruits. Additionally, funds had been provided by the handler to facilitate the procurement of materials for fabricating more IEDs.
So far, six terrorist associates have been arrested. Based on their disclosures, a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives has been recovered, including five IEDs with remotes, 30 detonators, 17 batteries for IEDs, two pistols, three pistol magazines, 25 live rounds of ammunition, four hand grenades, and cash amounting to Rs 20,000.
The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests and recoveries are expected.
