| Hizbul terrorist's father, a Forest Deptt employee, arrested in Kishtwar | |    | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 19: Intensifying its campaign to dismantle the terror ecosystem across Jammu and Kashmir, security forces have arrested five alleged terror sympathisers, including a Forest Department employee who is the father of a wanted Hizbul Mujahideen militant, in separate operations in Kishtwar and Shopian districts.
The arrests were made as part of an ongoing drive to identify and neutralise networks that provide logistical, financial, and operational support to terrorist outfits operating in the Union Territory.
In a significant breakthrough, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Kishtwar Police arrested two persons from the Tandar-Dachan area of Kishtwar district for allegedly assisting local terrorists.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Tariq Ahmed Genu, an employee of the Forest Department, and Mohammad Iqbal.
According to officials, Tariq Ahmed Genu is the father of Mudassir Hussain, a wanted A+ category terrorist of the proscribed Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Security agencies had reportedly been monitoring his activities for a considerable period.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, police teams apprehended the duo and subsequently carried out searches in the Kanjalgoth forest area of Tandar-Dachan. Based on disclosures made during interrogation, security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including 16 live AK-47 rounds, two UBGL grenades, and one cylinder-shaped UBGL shell from a hideout in the forest area.
Officials said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were allegedly involved in providing shelter, logistical support, and other forms of assistance to local terrorists.
"One of the arrested persons, Tariq Ahmed Genu, is the father of wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Mudassir Hussain. He had been under the radar of security agencies for a long time. Following credible inputs, he was arrested, and subsequent interrogation led to the recovery of a significant quantity of arms and ammunition," an official said.
Police also disclosed that two other individuals from the Chatroo area had earlier been arrested in the same case for similar offences.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar Naresh Singh said the arrests were the result of a meticulous investigation and that efforts were underway to identify and apprehend all persons linked to the terror-support network.
"The investigation is continuing, and strict legal action will be taken against everyone found involved in supporting terrorist activities," he said.
In a separate operation, security forces achieved another major success in south Kashmir's Shopian district by arresting three youths who had been missing from their homes since May 31.
The arrests were made during a search operation in the Pudusoo area, where security personnel recovered explosives and other incriminating material from the trio, who are suspected to have links with the banned Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.
The arrested youths were identified as Aijaz Ahmed Khanday, Arbaaz Ahmed Mir, and Nasir Ahmed Dar, all residents of Begam village in Shopian district.
Officials said the recoveries included two hand grenades, 2.5 kilograms of PEK (Plastic Explosive Kikri), four mobile phones, and posters linked to Hizbul Mujahideen.
Following the recoveries, all three were taken into custody for questioning.
Police said the youths had been missing from their homes for nearly three weeks and are now being interrogated to ascertain their role, possible recruitment into terrorist ranks, and links with terrorist handlers.
Investigators are also examining whether the trio had established contact with handlers operating from across the border.
Security officials said further arrests and recoveries cannot be ruled out as the investigation progresses.
The twin operations in Kishtwar and Shopian are being viewed as significant successes in the ongoing efforts of security agencies to dismantle terror networks and disrupt support systems that sustain militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. | | |
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