Terrorist arrested in J&K, was in touch with Pak handlers

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday arrested a hybrid terrorist, who was in touch with Pakistani handlers, from Reasi and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession.

Police received information that a person, namely Zaffer Iqbal, a resident of Angralla tehsil under Mahore police station in Reasi district, was in touch with terrorist handlers in Pakistan.

According to police, Zaffer’s brother, namely Mohd Ishaq, was a terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and was killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajouri. One of his relatives, namely Abdul Rashid, a resident of Reasi, is reportedly in Pakistan and is also working with terror groups.

On this information, Jammu and Kashmir Police registered a case under sections 120-B, 121, 121-A, 122, 123, and 124 IPC and teams of Reasi Police raided and arrested Zaffar Iqbal from Plaasu Nallah and put him under sustained interrogation. During interrogation, Zaffar confessed his intimacy with terror organizations and about the commission of the offence.

A joint operation of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was launched in the Angrala forest and arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered from a hideout in the area.

The forces recovered two pistols, four magazines, 22 9 mm live rounds and a grenade.

During further disclosure, a terror fund of Rs 1.81 lakh, which was to be used for terror-related activities, was also recovered.

Terming the arrest and recovery a big success, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Reasi Amit Gupta said that Zaffar was in touch with Terror groups and a major terror strike has been averted with his arrest.

SSP went on to say that Pakistani handlers are constantly working to revive terrorism in the upper reaches of district Reasi, and people like Zaffar are helping them. He said that peace-loving citizens of Reasi disowned terrorism in past also, and no such attempt would be successful in this area.