In a joint operation by teams of  Delhi Police Special Cell and Shopian Police, a hardcore member of  banned terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was arrested and one juvenile was apprehended from Jammu & Kashmir’s Shopian area on Friday. The accused persons were allegedly in contact with a Kashmiri policeman turned terrorist one Naveed Mustaq, in 2017 and is currently a district commander of HM.

According to police, the accused arrested was identified as Kifayatullah Bukhari resident of Pora Bora in Shopian district. Kifayatullah along with the juvenile were apprehended from a special Naka setup, near Narwaw village in Shopian. A Team of Special Cell was also present at the Naka for identification, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah stated that a team of Special Cell, New Delhi Range (NDR) was working upon identifying and apprehending the modules inspired by ISIS and terrorist of HM who are procuring weapons from North India. It was learnt that these modules off lately are strengthening their cadres in Jammu and Kashmir and planning to extend their activities in Delhi and nearby areas.

“During the onset of this year, a specific input was received by Special Cell regarding movement of HM cadres in Delhi and its neighbouring cities, procuring sophisticated small weapons. It has been learnt that small weapons for executing target killing are difficult to arrange in J& K and the HM militants are procuring the same from adjoining areas of the National Capital,” said the DCP.

Information was received recently that an operative of HM has procured  sophisticated weapons and was set to join the ranks of HM as an active terrorist. The information was further developed and a team of Special Cell headed by Inspector Sunil Rajain and Inspector Ravinder Joshi was sent to J&K.

Police said that they further disclosed the information to their counterparts in Shopian District and the accused persons affiliated to HM were apprehended.

Kushwah disclosed that the accused persons were in contact with Naveed Mustaq (30), an ex-constable, also known as Naveed Babu, a resident of Nazneenpora of Shopian, South Kashmir. He had joined J&K police in 2012 and was serving as a police constable before joining the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

“Naveed Babu had decamped with four weapons in 2017.  Currently, he is district commander of HM. During this ongoing operation, an underground hideout (believed to be of Naveed Babu) which can accommodate four-five terrorists at a time was also identified,” Kushwah revealed. 

“A case under appropriate sections was registered at Shopian police station, J&K in this regard. One pistol and 14 live cartridges were recovered from the accused persons,” the DCP said.