SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP), R R Swain on Tuesday said that three over ground workers were arrested and seven others have been identified in drone delivery cases.
The DGP said action has been initiated against them as per the law in the 48 hours long operation in Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Union Territory.
“In a major security development, it becomes important to bring to public domain those involved in transporting, hiding and delivering the arms, ammunition, cash, and narcotics smuggled through drone from Pakistan,” Swain told reporters at a press conference here.
The J&K Police chief stated that in the last 48 hours, searches were conducted at 10 places and seven people were identified after their involvement in drone delivery cases was confirmed in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
“Three persons have been arrested who were found involved in felicitating drone movement by receiving and distributing the material transported from drones sent by the Pakistani handlers,” said Swain
He was flanked by ADGP CID Nitish Kumar, ADGP Law and Order Vijay Kumar, and ADGP Jammu Zone, Anand Jain.
He stated that seven OGWs are also identified for being involved in picking up the drone-dropped materials to disrupt peace in the region ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
The DGP identified the arrested persons as Gulshan Naz, a resident of Kotranka (already arrested under the UAPA), Imtiaz Ahmed, a resident of Kotranka, and Abid Shah, a resident of Budhal, Rajouri.
Asserting that the police have sufficient evidence for their involvement in the case, he said, “The arrested persons were operating in the region on the directions of the mastermind identified as Mohammad Qasim, alias Suleman as Salman, resident of Mahore, Reasi, currently based in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), a commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit.”
The Jammu and Kashmir government has already announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to Qasim’s arrest.
Qasim was involved in the IED blast in pilgrim’s bus in Katra and the Narwal blast, he said, adding that the LeT commander has also been actively brainwashing vulnerable youth using social media platforms and attempting to lure them into joining militancy.
“Police have evidence against the arrested persons, who were in touch with their Pakistani handlers as they were circulating the items drone dropped from Pakistan to the people providing logistic support to terrorists, OGWs and the families of those already in jail.”
“Many youngsters have prevented themselves from falling into the trap laid by Qasim but we want parents and teachers to make them aware that if anybody falls into the trap they will ultimately be arrested.”
Swain also added that the surveillance is being maintained on social media handles, especially the usage of VPN and other such networks to connect with the anti-national elements—(KNO)
