Expanding the horizon of investigation into the Poonch attack, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday detained a religious cleric (Moulvi) from Jammu’s Bathindi area for allegedly having his links with the terrorists involved in the recent attack.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), though the security forces are tight- lipped on the incident and restricted for sharing news with media, but reliable sources informed that during interrogation and questioning of detainees, a name of Poonch based Moulvi was surfaced for allegedly having links with militants and across the border.
“A team of SOG lifted Moulvi namely Manzoor from the Madrassa, Markaz -UL- Marrif in Bathindi on suspicion of having links with Poonch attack,” sources said adding that alleged accused is teacher in Madrassa and hailed from Poonch district”.
The fresh raid in Jammu took place a day after Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh claimed that the terror plot has been uncovered and six locals have been arrested for sheltering the militants.
Earlier, on April 20, militants ambushed an army vehicle in which five soldiers were killed and one left injured. The soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terror operations.
According to DGP Singh, the explosives and weapons came from Pakistan through drones.
Singh said that police have so far questioned more than 200 people and the operation to neutralise those involved in the attack is underway.
“Six persons (of a module) have been arrested. They include those who have provided material (weapons, ammunition, explosives) to the terrorists besides shelter and food and guided them from one to another place,” Singh told reporters during a visit to Rajouri district.
He also claimed that there are 10 to 12 such elements operating in the area.
Earlier, Army’s Northern Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi also visited the attack site and said that necessary action is underway against the terrorists responsible for the deadly attack on an army truck in Jammu Kashmir’s Poonch district that left five soldiers dead.
Meanwhile, a massive search operation to track down the militants is underway in Bhata Dhurian following the ambush—(KNO)