Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 24: In a major breakthrough, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba (TRF) operative for allegedly providing logistical support to the terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
The accused, identified as 26-year-old Mohammad Yousuf Kataria of Kulgam district, was picked up for questioning after police analyzed weapons seized during July’s Operation Mahadev. Following two days of interrogation, he was formally arrested.
“Srinagar Police have arrested an OGW (overground worker) from South Kashmir, identified as Mohd Yousuf Katari (26) of Kulgam. He played a role in providing logistical support to the terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev,” a senior police officer said.
Police sources said Kataria arranged resources for the group of Pakistani terrorists who were gunned down in Dachigam forest during Operation Mahadev in July.
On April 22, Pakistani terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam, killing at least 26 people in one of the deadliest attacks in Jam The accused Mohammad Yousuf Kataria, 26, of Kulgam district, was picked up for questioning after police analyzed weapons seized during July’s Operation Mahadev.
He played a role in providing logistical support to the terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev.
Kataria arranged resources for the group of Pakistani terrorists who were gunned down in Dachigam forest in July.
On April 22, Pakistani terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam, killing 26 of them in one of the deadliest attacks in J&K in recent years.
Launched on May 22, Operation Mahadev was based on intelligence inputs about terrorists hiding in the Dachigam forest near Srinagar. After weeks of surveillance—during which forces intercepted encrypted communication on China-origin devices—the assault was launched on July 28.
Army para-commandos killed three top militants in the operation, including Suleiman alias Asif, the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam attack. Two others—Jibran, linked to last year’s Sonamarg Tunnel attack, and Hamza Afghani—were also eliminated.
A large cache of arms was recovered, including AK-47s and M9 rifles, which later helped police trace Kataria’s role in aiding the group.
Kataria’s arrest, police said, marks an important step in dismantling the Lashkar support network behind the Pahalgam massacre. | 