SRINAGAR: J&K police on Sunday arrested three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists and four “associates” of terrorists from different parts of Kashmir Valley.

While one Lashkar terrorist was arrested from Kangan in Ganderbal district and the two others were held in Srinagar city, the four “associates” were picked up from Budgam in central Kashmir, police said. Cases under relevant sections of law have been filed against all seven.

Fayaz Ahmed Bhat, who was arrested from Kangan, was involved in the terror plot that was foiled by operation Kullan in Ganderbal district on November 12 last year. Investigations had found that it was Bhat who had brought two Lashkar terrorists to Kullan to execute some terror plot. While one terrorist got killed in the operation, the other one, Nisar Ahmad Dar, had managed to escape. Dar was later arrested from a Srinagar hospital on January 4 this year, police said.

After Bhat’s arrest, one China-made hand grenade was recovered from his possession.

“Bhat had arranged shelter for terrorists in the locality on different occasions and he had also ferried terrorists from Bandipora to Ganderbal at the behest of his Pakistani handlers,” a police official said.

“Previous record also shows that Bhat was involved in grenade lobbing at Kangan police station in 2008 and an FIR under the Explosive Substances Act was registered against him. He had remained in jail for a considerable period and was also booked under the Public Safety Act,” the official added.

In the Srinagar incident, police and paramilitary forces intercepted a Santro car on Barzulla-Chanapora road on Sunday. “While checking the vehicle with two persons on board, police found arms and ammunition. The occupants of the car, identified as Lashkar terrorists Vakeel Ahmed Bhat and Omar Ismail Das, both residents of Bijbehara in Anantnag district, were arrested,” the official said.

The four “associates”, from whose possession arms and ammunition were recovered, have been identified as Muzamil Nabi, Umer Ajaz (both residents of Kanihama), Rouf Bhat and Ishfaq (both residents of Kantebagh), police said.

As per investigations, they were involved in providing logistic support and shelter to active terrorists operating in Budgam’s Magam area.

