April 01
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained one person in connection with the blast that occurred near Jawahar Tunnel in Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The arrest has been made in Banihal and an investigation has been initiated, according to sources. Earlier, another major breakthrough to the Banihal blast case, the Jammu Kashmir Police has found a letter written by the absconding Santro driver claiming himself to be associated with terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.
The letter also added that the extreme step to attack the CRPF convoy on Jammu-Srinagar national highway was taken in view of atrocities on Kashmiris since 1947.
The authenticity of the letter is being verified by the police. Meanwhile, there are also reports that huge quantity of urea, gelatine sticks and oil were used in the Santro blast, causing damage in a CRPF vehicle near the Jawahar Tunnel – the gateway to the Kashmir Valley around 10:30 am this morning.
According to a preliminary investigation, the blast near Tethar village, seven kilometre from Banihal town in Jammu region, occurred after one of the two gas cylinders in the Hyundai Santro model caught fire.
The detained person has been identified Owais Ahmed Malik son of Mohammed Yousuf Malik who is a resident of Arwani in Bijbehara area in South Kashmir’s Islamabad (anantnag) district.
Owais has Joined Militant outfit Hizb ul Mujahideen in April 2018.
Banihal sub-divisional police officer Sajad Sarwar said the vehicle, which was on the way to Jammu from Srinagar, was completely gutted in the fire.
“Another gas cylinder was found lying near the vehicle, but no explosive substance was found,” the officer said, without ruling out a terror angle