Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, Nov 11: In a significant nationwide operation, security agencies have dismantled an inter-state terror network with alleged cross-border connections, arresting 13 individuals, including five medical professionals and a religious preacher following the appearance of jihadist posters in the Kashmir Valley last month.
Official sources told Kashmir Convener, the probe was initiated after jihadist posters glorifying the banned terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) appeared in Srinagar’s Nowgam area on October 28. This lead prompted a coordinated crackdown across Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
According to security sources, a central figure, Dr. Umar, has been identified as a key suspect in the Delhi blast case. Preliminary findings indicate he procured the vehicle used in the explosion from Haryana using a fictitious identity, deliberately selecting a target with the potential for mass casualties. It remains unclear whether Dr. Umar was driving the vehicle during the attack.
The module allegedly raised funds under the guise of charitable activities and leveraged professional and academic networks for recruitment and operational secrecy, officials stated.
A major breakthrough followed interrogations in Srinagar, which led agencies to Dr. Adeel Rathar in Saharanpur. His subsequent questioning directed authorities to Dr. Muzammil Shakeel. Coordinated raids on their properties resulted in the seizure of a substantial cache of explosives and weaponry, leading to the arrest of seven individuals, including the two doctors.
The investigation continues to expand, with further arrests anticipated. “The full extent of involvement by individuals outside Jammu and Kashmir in this plot to strike at the country’s heart will be determined in the coming days,” official sources stated.
In related developments, Dr. Sajad Mallah was arrested in Pulwama based on evidence retrieved from digital devices.
An Imam from Shopian, alleged to be involved in radicalization efforts, has been detained. During a search of his residence, his brother, who is employed with the local police, was taken in for questioning.
Two brothers from Pulwama, Amir and Omar, were detained. While a photograph circulated after the Delhi blast showed a man resembling Amir with the vehicle used in the attack, family members have denied any connection to the vehicle, sources added.
In response to these developments, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level security review.
An official communiqué stated that LG Sinha directed officials to maintain constant vigilance and emphasized the need for seamless coordination among the J&K Police, intelligence agencies, and other security forces.
Meanwhile, security forces have launched extensive vehicle checks across the union territory.
A senior police official confirmed that checkpoints were established on national highways and key arterial roads in multiple districts, resulting in the seizure of several vehicles lacking valid documentation.
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