Sopore police today claimed to have arrested 11 persons from Watlab area of north Kashmir, four of them were allegedly conduits of the militant outfits -Jaish and Hizb. Police said that on a specific information regarding the presence of militants in general area of Watlab, cordon and search operation launched by Sopore police along with MARCOS and CRPF on Monday at 10 p.m. “During search operation terrorists were hiding near school and the parties zeroed on to that area and arrested Mushtaq Ahmad Chopan alias Haroon, son of Gulam Mohd Chopan of Wagad Tral, Shujauddin Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohiduin Sheikh of Dadsara Tral, Irshad Ahmad Lone, son of Ab Rashid Lone of Seer Tral, and Humaiz, resident of Kupwara”. Police said that they recovered One AK 47 rifle, one AK magazine, 15 AK rounds from the arrested militants.
Police further said that Mushtaq Ahmad Chopan alias Haroon tried to open fire on to the Police party but was overpowered and arrested. One pistol, one magazine, three pistol rounds and one hand grenade was recovered from HM militant Shija-u-din Sheikh and one hand grenade was recovered from Irshad Ahmad Lone. Police said that a case FIR no 10/2018 U/S/7/25A act stands registered in police station Sopore and Investigation is going on. “During the course of the investigation, the names of the persons mentioned below surfaced who are working as conduits of these terrorists and they have been motivated to join the terrorist ranks. For this these conduits are in contact with the terrorist of south Kashmir namely Riyaz Naikoo and Hamad of HM and Ali and Qasim of JeM.” Police told media persons that a lot of incriminating documents and mobile phones have been recovered from the conduits. Joint parties of police Sopore, MARCOS, 22 RR Army and CRPF busted HM and JeM network by arresting these OGWs. The OGWs were identified as Tajamul Islam Shah, son of Mohd Maqtoob Shah, Syed Tamiz-U-din, son of Syed Mohi-u-din of Dangerpora Sopore, Gulam Nabi Mir, son of Mohd Akbar Mir, Mudasir Ahmad Mir, son of Mohd Akbar Mir, of Iqbal Nagar Sopore, Saleem Ahmad Beigh, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh, Muzamil Ahmad Ganie, son of Gulam Hassan Ganie, both residents of SheikhSahib Sopore, and Showkat Ahmad Kaboo son of Ali Mohd Kaboo of Arampora Sopore.
Police said that it is pertinent to mention that the militants are from south Kashmir have come to north Kashmir to recruit local youth to join militant ranks and the militants of JeM and HM are working together for these recruits and are in contact with the south Kashmir militants like Reyaz Naikoo and Hamaad of HM and Ali and Qasim of JeM