(With inputs from PTI)

NEW DELHI: In first such action launched in the valley, the National Investigation Agency – assisted by J&K police, CRPF and NSG commandoes and drones in tow – raided Srinagar central jail on an information that the youngsters from Kashmir valley are being indoctrinated from inside the jail and sent to Pakistan for arms training.Twenty teams of NIA searched every barrack and open ground of the high security prison, that houses hardcore terrorists including those from Pakistan, and was shocked to recover huge cache of Jehadi literature, handmade/printed posters of terror outfits including Hizbul Mujahideen , Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistani flag and 25 mobile phones.Among other items, NIA recovered posters of Burhan Wani, diaries containing phone numbers of Pakistan based terror handlers, SIM cards, digital cards, pen drives, iPod and large number of documents and articles and dangerous items like screwdrivers, pipes, knifes, etc.NIA spokesperson – Inspector General Alok Mittal said that the raids were carried out following interrogation of two youths from Pulwama - Danish Ghulam Lone and Sohail Ahmed Bhat – who were arrested by Kupwara police in October 2017 while they were trying to cross the Line of Control (LOC) to enter Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) for arms training.Lone and Bhat had claimed that fresh recruits of Al-Badr were being sent across for arms training in furtherance of a conspiracy hatched from inside the Central Jail, Srinagar.Lone and Bhat told investigators that they were in touch with Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo last year as they wanted to join the outfit. Riyaz directed them to Mohammad Ishaq, who was lodged in Srinagar central jail for a murder in Shopian, before he was shifted to Jammu jail by authorities two weeks back.Ishaq, while sitting inside the jail, stayed in touch with Lone and Bhat through mobile phones, indoctrinated them and arranged for their passage to PoK.“We had specific information of radicalisation and induction of youngsters in the terror ranks inside Srinagar central jail by hardened terrorist leaders, both locals and from Pakistan,” said an officer.An officer, who was part of the raids, told TOI that “terrorists lodged in Srinagar jail are having a comfortable life with access to everything”.The role of jail officials will be probed, said sources.Officials added that they will also investigate the role of separatists in sending the terrorists to PoK in connivance with hardcore terrorists’ leader lodged at Srinagar jail.Giving details of the raid, NIA officials said that after registering a case on February 21, whole operation was planned in detail and in secrecy.Senior NIA officers flew to Srinagar while selected CRPF, J&K police and NSG teams were prepared on the ground. The 20 teams entered the jail premises in the early morning hours on Monday and searched every corner including all the barracks and open ground till late afternoon. The dogs and deep search metal detectors were also used, while a close watch was kept on the entire operation with the help of drones. Doctors and magistrates assisted the raid teams.Officials said that 25 mobile phones, 5 secure digital cards, 5 pen drives, one iPod and large number of documents and articles are being brought to Delhi for analyzing the evidence.The agency is also probing the escape of dreaded Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist Mohammed Naveed Jhatt on February 6 from a busy hospital in Srinagar. It is believed that the conspiracy of his escape was hatched in the Srinagar central jail.