Srinagar
After Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar’s nephew Talha Rashid was killed in an encounter at Pulwama in southern part of Kashmir on Tuesday, IGP, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Munir Khan said that a M4 rifle, besides two AK-47 rifles, were recovered from the encounter site.
M4 carbine rifle is a premier rifle used by NATO and by the militaries of country close to the US.
“As far as the M4 weapon is concerned, we will investigate how it came into the hands of these militants,” Khan said, addressing a press conference in Srinagar.
But Khan reiterated that recovery of an M4 carbine should not be a cause for worry since it is a difficult weapon to maintain and difficult to hide, adding that that only one of them have been seized so far.
Khan said the recovery of the rifle shows the complicity between JeM and Pakistan.
“This US-made M4 carbine is presently with a lot of armies with the NATO. This is used by the special forces of the Pakistan army,” said Major General BS Raju, General officer commanding (GOC) of the Victor Force, adding: “so we have a reason to believe that this weapon was given by Pakistan army to JeM cadres.”
Three militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight that began around 6pm in Kandi Aglar village on Monday.
The militants were identified as Talha Rasheed, nephew of JeM chief Masood Azhar; Mehmood Bhai, divisional commander of the outfit and Waseem Ahmad Ganai of Drabgam Pulwama.
“How it (M4 carbine) came into the hands of this group, the matter will have to be taken up through different channels with concerned embassies. It is a subject matter of thorough investigation now,” he said.
Khan also said they will ask Pakistan to collect the body of Masood Azhar’s nephew. “Jaish-e-Muhammad has owned Talha Rasheed,” IG said.
“Top commanders have been killed but militancy is still there,” they said.
He said since the number of home grown militants has come down that is why JeM is taking central stage.
