Six Arrested in Kashmir for Alleged Terror Links

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police and National Investigation Agency has detained six persons from south Kashmir who were allegedly in contact with Mohammad Naveed, one of the suspected militants caught alive by forces after an ambush in Udhampur last week that left two BSF soldiers dead.

The detained persons include Mohammad Altaf Wani, Javaid Ahmad Parray, Fayaz Ahmad Wani and his brother, Javaid Ahmad Wani. They are all residents of Chursoo in Awantipora of south Kashmir. Police sources said the two brother are carpenters by profession and work with a contractor at Air Force Station in Awantipora.

"Naveed and his group members were in contact with them in June after the group crossed over the LoC. We are questioning them to know the whereabouts of other two militants who managed to escape from Udhampur after the encounter and their contacts in Kashmir Valley," a J&K Police officer said.

Naveed, a resident of Faisalabad in Pakistan, has said his group of four members began their journey to Kashmir from Halan area of Pakistan and stayed at Baba Reshi shrine in Gulmarg before moving to south Kashmir.

"A local militant of LeT, Ashiq Hussain Bhat of Chursoo, Awantipora, had received the group in Baba Reshi area who helped them in moving to south Kashmir before the attack was carried out," the police officer said.

He said the group members were taken to Udhampur in a load carrier belonging to a resident of Pulwama, "Naveed has disclosed that he and other members of his group stayed with Javed and Fayaz for four days during which they planned the strike in Udhampur," the officer said.

While Noman, another LeT militant, was killed during the attack in Udhampur, Ukasha and Mohammad Bhai, both from Khyber Pakhtunkhwah area of Pakistan, managed to escape.

Sources said Naveed had met the district commander of LeT for Pulwama, Talib Shah, who was killed in an encounter with Army and Police at Kakpora village last week. Two more militants including the divisional commander of LeT, Abu Qasim, had managed to escape during the encounter.

The police is now looking for another over ground worker of LeT, identified as "mantri" who is believed to have provided logistical support to the LeT group members during their travel in south Kashmir.

After directions from the Union Home Ministry, the NIA joined the J&K Police in investigating the case. Naveed was brought to Srinagar late Friday evening by the NIA sleuths from Jammu and their primary focus is to find out his associates in Kashmir.

Sources said Naveed is likely to be taken to New Delhi for further questioning by NIA.