The security forces made another success against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) associates were apprehended in Bandipora district on Sunday. The associates were picked up by police during a joint checking operation conducted by the J&K Police and the Indian Army at Malpora Nowgam in Sumbal subdivision.
The officials said the suspects were Abdul Majid Gojri, a resident of Sadarkote Bala, and Abdul Hamid Dar, a resident of Vijpara Hajin. A search of their belongings resulted in the seizure of a store of arms and ammunition, including two Chinese grenades, two Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) grenades, and 10 rounds of AK-series rifles.
A case has been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and further investigation has been launched. Officials stated the arrest underscores the sustained efforts of the security forces to cripple not just armed terrorists but also their over-ground workers (OGWs) and sympathizers who abet terror networks.
The operation is a follow-up to months of stepped-up operations following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 lives were lost. One of the biggest successes was where security forces killed three hardcore Pakistani terrorists—LeT commander Suleman Shah and his assistants Abu Hamza and Jibran Bhai in Operation Mahadev on July 28 in the Dachigam National Park region of Srinagar.
Authorities further stated that the emphasis is not just on eliminating armed militants but also on decimating the terror infrastructure, such as hawala networks and drug trafficking networks, which are suspected to finance terror in the Union Territory. With intensified, intelligence-based operations being conducted, security agencies seek to sever the financial and logistical support umbilical cords of terror outfits in J&K.