SPO-Turned-Militant Arrested Along With Three JeM Terrorist In Kashmir's Budgam

In a statement, the police said that Acting on a specific input, Budgam police along with 53RR and 181 Bn CRPF launched a CASO at Hayatpora, Chadoora.

Photo: PTI (Representative Image)

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday claimed to have arrested a missing Special Police Officer (SPO) along with three militant associates of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Central Kashmir's Budgam district. However, some reports suggested that the SPO surrendered before the police.

In a statement, the police said that Acting on a specific input, Budgam police along with 53RR and 181 Bn CRPF launched a CASO at Hayatpora, Chadoora.

During the search, one vehicle tried to flee from the cordon which was stopped tactfully, the occupants tried to resist who were overpowered by Security Forces.

Out of them, one was identified as Desserter SPO turned militant Altaf Hussain. The other 3 have been identified as, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Jamsheed Magray, and Zahid Dar all residents of Pulwama.

On their search, arms, ammunition, and other incriminating material were recovered.

The statement further stated that On further inquiry it was found that the group is associated with militant organization JeM and were operating in the area with the intention to carry out some subversive activities.

Pertinent to mention here that the said SPO had decamped with two AK 47 rifles along with one Jahangir who was later on arrested by security forces in a live encounter in the Chadoora area of Budgam.

In this regard case, FIR no 242/2020 under relevant sections of UAPA has been registered in PS Chadoora and investigation took up, the statement said.