Early Times Newspaper Jammu
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06 LeT militant associates arrested involved in killing of two councilors, a cop
S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report

BARAMULLA, Apr 10: Police on Saturday claimed to have busted a Lashker-e-Toiba network that is believed to be behind the attack on Municipal Councilors and Police that were recently killed in Sopore town of this north Kashmir district.
It is learnt that, Sopore Police busts the network involved in the militant attack as on Mar 29, two municipal councilors and a cop were killed in Sopore town, after which multiple CASO's were launched by Sopore Police along with other security forces at suspected locations Dangepora, Brath Kalan ,Sidiq Colony Sopore, Model Town and Batpora.
Various suspects were picked up for the questioning and during questioning one suspect OGW namely Ashiq Ahmad Pandith of Dangerpora revealed that the militants namely Mudasir Pandith @ Maaz along with foreign militant namely @ Asrar before militant attack had stayed at his residence from 25-03-2021 to 28-03-2021 and had planned the whole militant attack, said police.
They said that during further questioning the name of another suspect namely Junaid Ahmad Shusha of Model Town Sopore came to fore.
Mudasir Pandith @ Maaz along with his two foreign militants @ Ahmad and @ AbuSariya stayed for the night on instructions of Imran, an OGW of LeT outfit, police said.
Junaid Ahmad Shusha and Umair Ashiq were convinced by Mudasir Pandith @ Maaz to work for LeT and they were introduced to Sajid Ali POK handler of LeT.
It is further known that, Upon Imran's disclosure, Umair Ashiq and Imran were picked up and confessed that both of them were indeed working for proscribed outfit LeT and were providing logistic support to banned organizations to strengthen their network in main town Sopore.
Another hardcore OGW, Shakir Yousuf Bhat resident of Batpora was apprehended who further revealed that he is cousin of militant Mudasir Pandith @ Maaz and prior to his joining with militants ranks they were working together as mechanic in local workshop at Sopore, said official.
Another used to ferry Mudasir and his associates from Sopore to other places (Wagoora,Nowpora Kerri Baramulla ,Sahipora,Pandithpora,Tulwari Handwara ,and Hajin Bandipora) .
To execute the militants action which Mudasir Pandith @ Maaz along with his foreign associate had hatched at the residence of his maternal cousin Ashiq Ahmad Pandith during their stay from (25 to 28 March ).
On the directions of the main handler from across namely Sajid Ali, Maaz activated his OGW network, including Junaid Shusha,Umair Ashiq and Syed Imran.
It is learnt that, at about 12.48 hours on March 29, militants went inside the complex and indiscriminately opened fire upon police personnel and councilors resulting on spot death of councilors Riyaz Ahamd Pir & SPO Shafat Ahmad and seriously injured councilor Shamus Din Pir who later succumbed to his injuries.
It is pertinent to mention here that, four PSOs were suspended by the police while an OGW was arrested who revealed that the plan to carry out the attack was hatched by militants.