DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the police had received intel that the Punjab border is being used by LeT to smuggle huge consignments of arms and explosives.
Published Oct 14, 2023 | 7:16 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 14, 2023 | 7:16 PM
Weapons consignment seized by two arrested accused in Amritsar. (Supplied)
Punjab Police, in a joint operation with central agencies, have thwarted a possible terrorist attack in the border state by busting a terrorist module — backed by militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — with the arrest of two operatives.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said, “The terror module is being handled by Firdaus Ahmed Bhat, an active member of the LeT. Those arrested have been identified as Uzair Ul Haq of Rahpora Khudwani and Raj Mohammad Andleeb of Kherwan in Jammu & Kashmir.
The police have also recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), two hand grenades, one .30 bore pistol, along with two magazines and 24 cartridges, eight detonators, one timer switch, and four batteries from their possession.
Yadav further added that they had received intel that the Punjab border is being used by LeT to smuggle huge consignments of arms and explosives, and that their two members are expected to retrieve the consignment in the area of Kathu Nangal.
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) wing of Amritsar, in coordination with central agencies, launched a special operation in the area and apprehended both the accused with the weapons consignment.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused were recruited into the terror organisation by Bhat and the militant outfit was planning to use them to target places of strategic importance and prominent personalities in J&K and Punjab to disturb peace and harmony of the country.
“Both arrested accused were in constant touch with Bhat via various social media platforms and, on Thursday, he had sent them to Amritsar to collect the consignment of weapons and bring them to the Kashmir valley,” added Yadav.
The police department said that during the investigations, it was also revealed that accused Uzair Ul Haq, kin of Bhat, was earlier arrested in two cases pertaining to stone pelting in District Kulgam, while Andleeb has no previous criminal record. Further investigations are being carried out to unearth the entire terror network.
