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| Retired cop for offering logistics to ultras, war-like ammunition recovered | | |
SUMIT SHARMA
Jammu, Jan 4: As a fierce gun battle rages on between an unspecified number of militants and the security forces in arduous hills of Mendhar in Poonch district, the Police today arrested a retired Assistant Sub Inspector of Police and a woman for allegedly providing shelter and logistics to the militants for building up their base in the area.
Meanwhile, the gunbattle between security forces and militants today entered the fourth day and the encounter has already left three security force personnel and four militants dead. "The fierce gunbattle resumed this morning after a night-long break. Army and police have put a three-tier cordon and are zeroing in on the cave-type hideouts in Bhatidhar forests," defence sources said.
Heavy fog and poor visibility are coming in the way of the security forces, they said, adding that "a major assault was launched in these strong cave-type hideouts to destroy them".
There are reports of over 10 militants hiding in the area, they said, adding that intercepts decoded have revealed that some top commanders of Jeish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Al-Badr and Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) were holed-up there. "We will not allow them to escape from the spot. The operation will finish after the recovery of their bodies," they said.
Apart from Romeo Force's 29th unit and 26 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police, authorities have rushed para units of Special Forces to the area besides some additional troops, they said. The militants have made strong fortifications from the natural caves against which mortar fire has not proved to be effective.
Sources said that the Police arrested a retired Assistant Sub Inspector of Police, identified as Muzaffar Hussain Shah, for offering support base to the militants. He was sent to Joint Interrogation Centre, Jammu at about 4 PM today. Following revelation for Shah, the Police have launched a raid and arrested his associated, identified as Moniza Bi. She has been lodged at Mendhar Police station for questioning.
In four days long encounter which started on January 1, four militants, three army men and two Special Police Officers have reportedly been lost their lives where as two Special Police Officers have received injuries.
The entire area has already been cordoned off by the troops. In joint interrogation centre police officers said that Shah had been providing the logistic support to the militants even during those days when he was in police uniform. He told police that the militants have constructed permanent bunkers at Bati Dhar forest area in Mendhar which are full of arms and ammunition, where as DIG Poonch Kamal Saini confirming the reports to the EARLY TIMES said that one pucka bunker has been destroyed and a war like arms and ammunition have been recovered from it.
He said that delay in the operation is due to the poor visibility. During the interrogation of retired police officer he also told police the name of woman OGW Moniza Bi wife of Mohammad Shafiq who was assist him to provide logistic support to the militants. Police on his revelation conducted a raid in her house and held her besides recovered arms and ammunition and some cash from the pillows in her house. She was also taking up to the Joint Interrogation centre Jammu.
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