Jammu, Aug 31: Security forces today busted a Laskhar-e-Taiba module in Mahore area of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir and arrested three persons who were in touch with Pakistan-based Lashkar commander Muhammad Qasim, who had exfiltrated to Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) in 2002.
A statement issued by the J&K police to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), stated that specific information was received on August 5 at Police Station Mahore that some unknown persons (anti-national elements) in the area were in touch with Lashkar militants based in Pakistan to revive the militancy in Mahore with the intention to wage a war against the country and to disturb the sovereignty and integrity of India.
“On this information, a case FIR NO-63/2020 U/S 120-B,121, 122, 123, 124 IPC was registered in police station Mahore and a Special Investigation Team was constituted to investigate the case,” the statement read.
“During the course of investigation, with the help of technical data analysis, support from Army and intelligence Units working in Mahore area and interrogation of suspects by the SIT, it has emerged that Muhammad Qasim who exfiltrated to other side of fence in the year 2002 (and some other youth of the area who are in PaK) working for Laskhar outfit across the border is the mastermind behind the module.”
The police said that the further investigations revealed that Qasim was trying to establish an OGW network so that Lashkar can utilise the new potential either as guides in infiltration or to recruit new ones in militancy from Mahore and adjoining areas, providing logistics support and establishing Lashkar base, facilitate the crossing of militants via various routes that include Rajouri belt, Mahore, Nikin Gali and other areas in Kashmir.
The statement said that three persons identified as Ghulam Hussain, Abdul Aziz, and Ashfaq Ahmed, all residents of Mahore, Reasi have been arrested who were in touch with the said Lashkar commander Qasim via different means.
“Some Benami transactions in different accounts of these suspects has also been detected and some families of slain militants who have received financial aid from ISI have also been identified. During investigation, the involvement of more suspects has been found in this module and investigation in this regard is in progress,” the statement said—(KNO)
