Jammu And Kashmir: Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba Member Arrested in Bandipora; AK-47 Magazine, Arms and Ammunition Recovered

A suspected member of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was arrested by the security forces in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

Srinagar, Jan 7: A suspected member of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was arrested by the security forces in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. An AK-47 magazine with 30 bullets among other arms and ammunition has been recovered from him. The arrested was made from Hajin’s Banyari. Further investigation is on.

The arrest comes a day after four policemen on patrol duty were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast by terrorists in a market in Sopore of north Kashmir. Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit has taken responsibility for the attack, but the Kashmir police said it will have to verify the claim.

The four personnel belonging to Indian Reserve Police-3rd battalion were on law and order duty when the IED planted by terrorists in the market, which was shut due to a separatist-sponsored strike, went off.

The slain personnel were identified as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Irshad Ahmad – a resident of Doda, Constable Ghulam Nabi – a resident of Rohama Rafiaabad area of Baramulla, Constable Parvaiz Ahmad – a resident of Vilgam, Handwara and Constable Mohammad Amin – a resident of Sogam, Kupwara.

Bandipora: A suspected member of Lashkar-e-Taiba arrested, one AK-47 magazine with 30 bullets among other arms & ammunition recovered from Hajin's Banyari. Further investigation on #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/FknRV9REaF

— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2018

Giving details of the incident, ADGP Munir Khan told reporters that shops were closed and vehicles were off roads due to the strike in Sopore when the militants ambushed the police team. “The IED was placed beneath the entrance of a shop. It was a big IED, there has been a huge crater because of it. Six or seven shops have suffered damage as well,” he said, adding “it was the first (IED) blast since 2015. Its use had almost ended.”

Denouncing the killings, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti urged the people to work shoulder to shoulder to break the “vortex of violence” in the state. These young policemen were killed when they were on duty to protect the people in the town. It is highly unfortunate, Mufti said.

(Inputs from PTI)