2 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists arrested for 2 Rajouri blasts, IED’s seized: Police
The Jammu and Kashmir Police said explosive material, including five improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was recovered at the instance of the two LeT terrorists.
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists have been arrested in connection with the recent blasts in Kotranka and Budhal areas of Rajouri district but the police are still looking for Lashkar commander Talib Shah who led them, police said on Tuesday.
Additional director general of police (ADGP), Mukesh Singh said Talib Shah is “the commander of LeT in general area Rajouri and the mastermind of all terrorist activities in the Pir Panjal area”.
The two suspects arrested by the police have been identified as Mohammad Shabir and Mohammad Sadiq of Draaj-Budhal village.
“A huge cache of explosive material, including five improvised explosive devices (IEDs), was recovered at the disclosure of the LeT operatives”, Singh said.
Two explosions rocked Kotrana town of Rajouri on March 26 and April 19, leaving two persons injured. On April 24, another blast went off in Shahpur-Budhal injuring two more persons.
“Working on leads, joint teams of Rajouri Police and 60 Rashtriya Rifles (14 Sector) conducted multiple raids and search operations at various locations in Larkoti, Targain, Jaglanoo and Draaj areas of Rajouri During the investigation, it came to the fore that three accused Talib Shah, also of Draaj village of Budhal area, Shabir and Sadiq were involved in the blasts, he said.
The senior police officer said three were working under the directions of Pakistan-based handlers, and received weapons, ammunition, and explosives used to carry out the blasts.
“It surfaced during a preliminary investigation that the group is headed by Shah, who collected three consignments of arms, ammunition and explosives from the Lamberi-Kalakote area in the months of January, March and April”.
“Shabir and Sadiq were also motivated by Shah to conduct terror activities. Shah has remained instrumental in almost all terror incidents in Pir Panjal districts in last two to three years,” Singh said.
Singh said it was also revealed that this group was sheltering some Kashmir-based active terrorists of LeT in the general area of Kandi-Budhal and was making efforts to revive militancy in Pir Panjal districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
“This is a big achievement for police and security forces as the blasts triggered panic in the area and these accused were also planning more such incidents to target security forces. The arrest of two associates of Shah is a big blow to the terror outfit (LeT),” the ADGP said.
During preliminary questioning, he said, the accused disclosed that they hid some explosives at Draaj forest and subsequently, a joint search operation was carried out by police and 60 Rashtriya Rifles, which led to the recovery of five IEDs, five remote controls, 10 fuses and 19 battery cells.
Singh said Shah’s arrest was “very crucial” to solving many terror and criminal cases in the Pir Panjal area.