SRINAGAR: Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested a top militant commander of proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Mustafa and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession.
Taking to social networking site Twitter, IGP Jammu wrote: “Hidayatullah Malik, a categorized militant from Shopian district has been caught in a joint operation by Jammu Police and Anantnag Police. The said militant is the Chief of Lashkar-e-Mustafa, a front organization of Jaish e Mohammad in Kashmir valley.”
Hidayatullah Malik, a categorized terrorist from #Shopian district has been caught in a joint operation by #Jammu #Police & #Anantnag Police. The said #terrorist is the Chief of #Lashkar-e-Mustafa, a front organization of #Jaish e Mohammad in #Kashmir valley.
— IGP Jammu (@igpjmu) February 6, 2021
“Legal proceedings have been initiated and further investigations are on. Preliminary questioning it has been revealed that they were planning to conduct a militant act at Jammu,” IGP Jammu tweeted.
Legal proceedings have been initiated & further investigations are on. Preliminary questioning it has been revealed that they were planning to conduct a terror act at Jammu. @JmuKmrPolice
— IGP Jammu (@igpjmu) February 6, 2021
A police spokesman in a statement said that in order to dismantle the structure of Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) a front organisation of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the efforts of Anantnag Police led to the arrest of its self styled chief Hidayatullah Malik @Hasnain in Jammu City by the joint team of Anantnag Police and Jammu Police.
“The first arrest in this chain was Ayaz Bhat of Anantnag from whom one pistol was recovered on 18.01.2021 in Case FIR No. 09/2021 of PS Anantnag),” said the spokesman.
“On his disclosure, two more militant associates namely Rayees Mir of Pampore and Shakir Itoo of Shopian were arrested from whose possession two grenades were recovered (Case FIR No. 10/2021 and FIR No. 11/2021 of PS Anantnag),” he said.
“Four more militant associates hailing from Anantnag were arrested and two Pistols, AK-47 rounds and hand grenades were recovered. (Case FIR No. 13/2021 of PS Bijbehera and FIR No. 20/2021 of PS Bijbehera),” he added.
“During the further course of the investigation, arrested associates revealed that militant Hidayatullah Malik is putting up in Bathindi area of Jammu and planning a major attack in Jammu City being the winter capital of the UT of J&K,” said the spokesman.
“Accordingly, a special team of Anantnag Police was constituted and deputed to Jammu to launch the operation,” he said.
“Today, at about 03:30 PM an operation was launched with the assistance of Jammu police at Kunjwani Jammu. During the joint operation the said militant attacked the joint party and tried to escape from the spot but the team while displaying exemplary discipline and dedication apprehended him tactfully because Kunjwani area of Jammu is a very crowded place,” he added.
“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including two pistols and grenades have been recovered from his possession,” he further said.
“It is pertinent to mention that militant Hidayatullah is one of ten accused in case FIR No. 40/2020 of Pulwama dated 27/05/2020 pertaining to detection of the powerful car bomb which was later on destroyed on the spot to avert any major mishap. Further investigation is in progress,” said the spokesman.
