Srinagar, Aug 26 (KNO) : Barely a day after four Handwara youth announced to have joined militant outfit Al Badr, they were arrested by by forces during a search operation in Kalaroos forests of north Kashmir's Kupwara district during wee hours on Sunday.
Defence Spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told (KNO) that a joint team of SOG and army launched a cordon in Nag Dagi forests of Kalaroos late Saturday night following the inputs about the presence of four Handwara youths, whose pictures wielding gun goes viral on social media while announcing to join the militant outfit Al Badr only on yesterday. "Today wee hours the joint team overpowered all the four youths from the forest area and taken into custody for further questioning," he said.
He said that three militants however fled under the cover of fire as troops exercised restraint to provide chance to new recruits to surrender. Kalia said the four recruits were trying to exfiliterate. He said that arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession.
The new recuits arrested were identified as Umar Bashir Sheikh (23) of Chotipora, Handwara, Danish Khazer Sheikh (22), Waseem Ahmad Khan (23) of Chotipora, Handwara and Tahir Habib Bhat of Khuru. Among the four Waseem is an MBA student.