Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, one of them a juvenile, have been apprehended in a joint operation by the Delhi Police and J&K Police, a senior officer said on Sunday.
DCP (Special Cell) Pramod Kushwah said that militant Kifayatullah Bukhari, a resident of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested, while another militant, a juvenile, was apprehended, during a special police-check set up near Narwaw village in Shopian.
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The police said the Special Cell team is trying to identify and apprehend members of modules inspired by ISIS and Hizbul Mujahideen, those procuring weapons from north India, and planning to extend their activities into Delhi and its neighbouring areas.
Mr. Kushwah said they have received inputs regarding movement of Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Delhi and the National Capital Region for procuring of sophisticated small weapons.
It has been learnt that small weapons are difficult to arrange in J&K and that the militants are procuring these arms from the National Capital Region.
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“We received a tip-off regarding a Hizbul Mujahideen militant who procured sophisticated weapons and would join the ranks of the group as an active militant. A special team was sent to J&K. The team shared the details with the Shopian district police and a trap was laid... two active Hizbul Mujahideen militants were arrested,” said Mr. Kushwah.
The team recovered one pistol and 14 live cartridges from the accused.
During interrogation, the militants said they were in contact with Naved Mustaq, a former constable and a resident of Nazneenpora, Shopian. Naved aka Naveed Babu had joined the J&K police in 2012 and served as a constable before joining the militant group. He decamped with four weapons in 2017 and is believed to be a district commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen.
Underground hideout
During the operation, an underground hideout, believed to be of Naveed Babu, was also discovered.
On September 6, 2018, two militant of ISIS-JK Parvaiz Rashid Lone and Jamsheed Zahoor Paul, both residents of Shopian, were arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell near Red Fort in the national capital, along with arms and ammunition. On November 24, three active militants Tahir Ali Khan, Haris Mushtaq Khan and Asif Suhail Nadaf were arrested by the Special Cell in Srinagar. The were carrying hand grenades and weapons.