Jammu - Cleric Held For Aiding Pak-Based Terror Outfit, Had Disclosed Locations Of Army Camps: Sources

Jammu-Kashmir: A local cleric in Jammu's Kishtwar is accused of aiding a less-known terrorist organisation called 'Kashmiri Janbaz Force' being run by handlers in Pakistan.

Accused Abdul Wahid held by Kishtar Police (L) | Tayyab Farooqi alias 'Umar Khatab', commander of Kashmir Janbaz Force (KJF) (R)

Source : Pranay Upadhayay

Kishtwar/Jammu: Acting on specific inputs from Military Intelligence, the police apprehended a local cleric in Jammu's Kishtwar on Friday over his alleged involvement in passing information related to security forces and assistance to a less-known terrorist organisation called 'Kashmiri Janbaz Force' being controlled from Pakistan.

ABP News learnt from sources that the Military Intelligence (MI) officials had detected the involvement of a suspect in passing information pertaining to deployment and movement of security forces, including the Army, to the terrorist group.

The input was further developed by MI with assistance of State Investigation Agency (SIA). The suspect was identified as one Abdul Wahid.

Wahid, 22, works as a 'Qari' (teacher) in a Madrasa and also as a 'Maulwi' (cleric) in a Mosque in Kishtwar. He said to be a married man from a middle-class family .

The intelligence leads were finally shared with Kishtwar Police and the operation was developed jointly, sources told ABP News.

Suspect An Active Member Of KJF's Facebook And Whatsapp Groups

On August 26, Kishtwar Police called the suspect to appear for questioning. During the joint questioning, Abdul Wahid revealed that in December 2020, he came in touch with one Tayyab Farooqi alias "Umar Khatab" through Facebook. Farooqi introduced himself as 'amir' (commander) of Kashmir Janbaz Force (KJF), sources said.

After their friendship, Abdul Wahid was initially tasked to upload photos/content related to KJF on Facebook. Later, they moved on to WhatsApp, wherein the so-called commander of KJF used to communicate using a "+92" (Pakistani) number.

According to sources, Abdul Wahid became an active member of the Facebook and WhatsApp groups of KJF supporting their anti-national activities in the digital domain. Abdul Wahid was even offered to join KJF as a terrorist.

Subsequently, Abdul Wahid started communicating with a few other unknown cadres/supporters of KJF. He is suspected of being in touch with persons likely to be Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).

Sources told ABP News that the persons tried luring Abdul Wahid by offering him money, a new phone, etc. Subsequently, Abdul Wahid was provided with a few virtual number-based WhatsApp accounts to communicate with his handlers. He was instructed to keep his phones clean and change his devices frequently.

'Accused Sent Photos Of Army Camps With Marked Routes For Infiltration'

The accused was also asked to motivate youths to join KJF. Further, the terrorists/PIOs had asked the accused on multiple occasions to send locations, photos, and videos related to security forces, they said.

Abdul Wahid is said to have accepted that he sent photos of Army camps along with marked routes for infiltration. He had sent locations of nearby Army camps and training locations of Army personnel, hence making these locations and personnel vulnerable to targeted terror attacks, sources revealed.

On finding his active involvement with the terrorists and likely PIOs, the accused is being booked by Kishtwar Police under relevant sections of UAP(A) and CrPC.

ABP News learnt from sources that Abdul Wahid is an ideologically motivated agent who kept on assisting the terrorists/PIOs, fully knowing their nationality and intentions. He was nabbed before he could send more information, photos, videos, and locations related to security forces, thereby facilitating terror attacks in or around Kishtwar, or make youth from the region join KJF.

It is believed that possible damages to the Chenab valley region in form of targeted terror attacks on security forces and/or recruitment of youths into KJF have been averted by this arrest.

Abdul Wahid will be produced before the court soon. More leads are being investigated jointly by Military Intelligence, State Investigation Agency, and J&K Police in this case.