In a sensational development, two alleged Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists posing as ‘students’ and involved in appointing for the group have been detained in Deoband in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police OP Singh said on Friday.
The two alleged terrorists- Shahnawaz Ahmad Teli from Kulgam and Aquib Ahmad Malik from Pulwama in J & K were arrested from the seminary town on Thursday night. The operation was headed by IG Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Asim Arun.
The two youths Teli and Malik, aged between 20-25 years, were living in Deoband and posing as students without taking admission, Singh said.
According to UP Director General of Police, they both were on their job to recruit for the JeM, which has claimed full responsibility for the Pulwama terror attack.
Giving insight into the major operation, Singh said the Anti-Terrorist Squad got a clue about the two people from a student after which an investigation was started. The two men were arrested after the surveillance.
“ATS recovered a 0.32 bore pistol from each of the alleged terrorists with cartridges. Jehadi chats, videos along with photos were also recovered from them. These are being investigated,” the DGP said, mentioning that they both will be brought to Lucknow on transit remand.
UP Anti-Terrorist Squad arrested two alleged JeM Terrorists who were posing as students in Deoband. When asked whether the two men were linked with the Pulwama terror attack, Singh said, “It’s difficult to tell whether they came here before the Pulwama attack or after that. The probe is on.”
“Both are being interrogated on when they arrived from Kashmir… how many other members are involved, have they succeeded in recruiting anyone in JeM, from where did they get funding and how much, what was their target after recruitment,” the DGP said.
He said, adding that J&K police supported the whole operation and the two forces will work with each other in the future too.
